EDITORS DESK
If we look into why we as a people have become such a car-centric society, it might be because the alternatives to traveling by car are so much more difficult. We’ve already talked at length about the shortcomings of public transport. I personally usually travel by motorcycle but don’t recommend it as it’s not the safest. Which leads us to the most basic form of personal travel: walking.
I’ve never seriously looked into a state of our sidewalks until I became a dad and suddenly had a baby to push around in a stroller. I used to be quite proud of my neighborhood — the Scout Area — which is not a gated community. In fact, it is quite open with multiple roads leading in, out, and through the area.
This open-ness is what makes it so great as there are commercial establishments like banks, drug stores, restaurants, bakeries, and sari-sari stores that are easy to get to. They’re often just a block or two away. There’s no village gate to go through just to get whatever you need. Just head directly to the establishment of your choice. While it’s certainly easy to get around with a private car, motorcycle, or even e-bike, it’s quite a different story when you have to walk, especially with a baby stroller.
Unfortunately, despite the newly installed wheelchair accessibility ramps and street lights, walking around still entails a relatively serpentine route. This is because of the multiple cars parked on driveways, motorcycles parked on the streets, trash, or power poles encroaching on the sidewalk. In addition, the sidewalk is quite uneven. There are sudden drops for driveways or entire concrete blocks jutting out because of a tree root or prior damage.
As much as I wanted to stick to the sidewalk for my baby’s safety, there were times that I really had to roll my child on to the street simply because there was no way to pass. And once we were on the street, we had to be wary of passing cars and motorcycles. These cars and motorcycles have to move further toward the center to avoid us. And thus, it cascades into slower vehicle travel, which leads to traffic.
It's a shame as some years ago, Quezon City led the way in creating proper sidewalks. I distinctly remember when nearby Tomas Morato Avenue was conceived to be one of the pioneers of this new pedestrian-centric renovation. The once chaotic sidewalks of this street, often allocated by businesses to car parking, were taken back by the city. In its place, the city put up a new tiled surface, clearly marked parking spaces, and a sidewalk with bike lane further inward, protected by bollards. Granted it drastically reduced the parking for the many restaurants here, but it certainly made the street more pleasant to walk along. It was such a brilliant move that it doubled the number or restaurants and land value in the area.
Fast forward some 20 years and now cars and motorcycles have begun parking along the pedestrian paths, commercial stalls have been put up on nearly every corner of the avenue, and the once broad sidewalks feel choked again. It’s gotten so bad that Quezon City is mulling declaring car-free days along Tomas Morato just to make it feel walkable again.
I’m not entirely opposed to the idea, but there’s no need for a new car-free weekend rule. The city already got it right the first time. The distinctive red sidewalks have become a hallmark of Quezon City. They simply need some proper maintenance and a bit of sidewalk clearing to make people want to walk again.
First of all, the city’s definition of “smooth” sidewalks should be reexamined. Yes, they’re relatively flat most of the time, but the abrupt dips for driveways, narrow parts obstructed by power poles, and multiple cracks would never gain the approval of a PWD in a wheelchair. The width of the sidewalk and any incline angles need to be consistent and unobstructed all throughout. If the sidewalk can be made to meet their needs, then pedestrians with strollers and bicycles will likely approve of it too.
Second, the city or barangay ought to be more diligent in penalizing sidewalk obstruction. All too often, there are homes that encroach on the sidewalk with front yard décor, gate extensions, personal effects, or vehicles. This should not be tolerated. Yet the barangay should also recognize its role and culpability in enforcing this rule. If the barangay hall is the first to violate this rule with dilapidated vehicles, or use the sidewalk as some temporary storage area, it should be penalized as well. After all, why will residents follow if the local leader is the first to violate the rule?
I seriously doubt there’s any individual that absolutely hates walking from their home to a nearby venue. Given proper sidewalks, it’s quite an easy choice to make as it doesn’t consume gas, there’s no parking to worry about, and it’s beneficial to the body. Yet walking will only be a viable option if the sidewalk itself is a viable path. It may not seem like much, but this can at least eliminate local traffic, easing congestion for pass-thru traffic, which will hopefully ease traffic in the city as a whole.
(Iñigo S. Roces is the Motoring Editor of Manila Bulletin)