THE improvement of our pedestrian environment is one of the most timely, impactful and cost-effective programs that the Marcos government can implement today. Walkability improvements are low-cost, short-gestation, employment-generating, highly visible, pro-poor and implementable in every barangay.
THE improvement of our pedestrian environment is one of the most timely, impactful and cost-effective programs that the Marcos government can implement today. Walkability improvements are low-cost, short-gestation, employment-generating, highly visible, pro-poor and implementable in every barangay.
Here are nine action points that can be implemented immediately, delivering early results for all Filipinos and making a difference for millions of lives: – Spend for active transport and accessibility. An executive order should be issued requiring national and local agencies to allocate at least 10 percent of their annual road/bridge infrastructure spending for the rectification, restoration and expansion of pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.
It will rectify the poor compliance with laws to address the mobility requirements of persons with disabilities, such as the Accessibility Law and the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons. – Expand the No-Contact Apprehension Program and focus on violations that endanger pedestrians. Pedestrians and cyclists will tell you that motor vehicle drivers were so much better behaved where the NCAP was active.
Driver behavior improves when there is a high probability of being caught and if sanctions are applied objectively, without exempting anyone with authority, influence or money. Positioning cameras at pedestrian crossings will change driver behavior at every crosswalk. – Install raised crossings in front of every school. A raised crossing will make a street much safer for all road users.
One in front of a school will ensure that vehicles slow down whether or not a person is crossing the road. It is also the best option for persons with disability because a person in a wheelchair or using crutches will have a level path to cross the street.
Get the latest news delivered to your inbox Sign up for The Manila Times newsletters By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. – Implement the 20 kilometers per hour speed limit for busy streets.
The Land Transportation and Traffic Code requires that the maximum speed limit be 20 kph “through crowded streets, approaching intersections at blind corners, passing school zones, passing other vehicles which are stationary, or for similar dangerous circumstances. ” Crowded streets are defined as streets “with heavy pedestrian traffic, including all streets within a 500-meter radius of schools, public transportation terminals, markets, government buildings, churches and other places of worship, recreational places, facilities frequented by the youth, parks, shopping malls, movie houses, hotels, restaurants, and other public places as may be determined by the city or municipal government.
” This rule has remained largely unimplemented to the detriment of vulnerable road users, and implementing it will save thousands of lives annually. – Restore sidewalks illegally converted into parking spaces. An EO should be issued to instruct every national agency and local government unit to restore all sidewalks illegally used as parking spaces and to penalize any parties responsible. The directive should invite ordinary citizens to report violations and similar infractions using their mobile phones/cameras.
Advertisement – Require every barangay to have at least one car-free street. Joint Administrative Order 2023-001, spearheaded by the Department of Health and co-authored by seven other agencies, provides guidelines on “Parks and Public Open Spaces for the Promotion of Physical and Mental Health and Social Well-being. ” One innovative feature is that it allows roads and bridges to be repurposed as public open spaces, either on a permanent basis or during specific dates or hours.
The order also introduces the concept of “People’s Streets,” defined as “streets, roads, parking lots, or bridges within the community that are prioritized for use by pedestrians, bicycles, and light mobility devices, closed for motor vehicle through-traffic, and are designated only for physical activity, leisure and recreational use by community members exclusively or on a specified schedule. ” If every barangay has one, it will not only offer a safe, pollution-free travel corridor but also provide much-needed green public space for exercise, play and community gatherings.
– Enable citizens to report anti-pedestrian violations using mobile phones. It should be possible to have an eGov app feature where violations of accessibility laws or anti-pedestrian behavior can be reported, with pictures and location information attached. This could be the next big project of the Information and Communications, Public Works and Transportation departments with the assistance of the Commission on Human Rights and the Department of Justice.
The National Council for Disability Affairs should maintain a repository of such complaints and prepare an annual report on actions taken. If there are persons in government who have been remiss in the implementation of our accessibility laws, there should be a process to hold them accountable. – Plant more trees and greenery along every sidewalk.
In addition to widening and clearing sidewalks of obstructions, we need to make our urban walkways cooler and greener. Every local government should launch a sidewalk tree-planting program to provide shade and water retention on every street. The species should be carefully selected, favoring indigenous ones, trees with good shade, and those that will not damage sidewalk surfaces over time.
Growing trees on every street will not only promote walkability; it will also lower ambient temperatures, countering the urban heat island effect. – Remove footbridges and restore at-grade pedestrian crossings. Replacing footbridges with ground-level pedestrian crossings will make our streets safer, inclusive and people-friendly. There are so many footbridges that have diminished the welfare of pedestrians and rendered many immobile.
These mobility barriers can be reversed by restoring ground-level pedestrian crossings and prioritizing those on foot over those inside motor vehicles. Advertisement If the walkability of our cities becomes a top priority of local and national governments, the impact will be enormous. The mobility environment will be enhanced significantly. With safer streets, thousands of lives will be saved annually.
Better health outcomes will be achieved. We will gain a cleaner, greener environment — all attainable at relatively low cost within the Marcos administration. Robert Siy is a development economist, city and regional planner, and public transport advocate.
Please follow us on Google to support usWalkability Improvements Active Transport Accessibility NCAP No-Contact Apprehension Program Raised Crossings Speed Limit Land Transportation And Traffic Code Sidewalks Car-Free Street Joint Administrative Order 2023-001 Egov App Anti-Pedestrian Violations Tree-Planting Program Footbridges Ground-Level Pedestrian Crossings Urban Walkways Marcos Government Robert Siy Public Transport Advocate Development Economist
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