Amid a proposal from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority to close the Edsa busway after the capacity of the Metro Rail Transit 3 is expanded significantly, the Department of Transportation issues a statement saying the dedicated bus lane remains one of the most efficient public road transport systems in the National Capital Region. As many as 23 groups the plan to close Edsa busway.鈥擨NQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� A total of 23 civil society organizations (CSOs) on Thursday expressed their opposition to the government鈥檚 plan to close the Edsa busway and allow motorcycles to use the bike lanes on Metro Manila鈥檚 busiest thoroughfare.
In a statement, the CSOs led by safer and more humane public transport advocate Move As One Coalition asked the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and other national agencies 鈥渢o work together to put the needs of pedestrians, including those who take public transportation and people on bicycles, above all other road users.
鈥淎ll of us are pedestrians, and a significant number are choosing to walk or cycle to work and school and to access social services,鈥� they said.
The groups added that they were 鈥済ravely concerned and baffled鈥� by the pronouncements of the MMDA and the DILG heads following the Feb. 4 meeting that President Marcos convened at Malaca帽ang to discuss the MMDA鈥檚 comprehensive traffic management plan for Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
Their statements, according to the CSOs, contradict the transportation policy statement in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 which puts the needs of pedestrians and cyclists above those of other road users.
Redundant
At a press briefing on Wednesday after the Malaca帽ang meeting, MMDA Chair Romando Artes said there was a proposal to shut down the Edsa busway once the passenger capacity of the Metro Rail Transit 3 was expanded. With the MRT3 able to accommodate more passengers, the bus lane would be redundant since both ply the same route, he stressed.
Artes suggested the Edsa busway be turned into a 鈥渟pecial lane鈥� that may be used by 鈥渉igh occupancy vehicles鈥� or private vehicles with three to four passengers.
鈥淭his suggestion makes no sense. What could be a higher occupancy than a bus?鈥� the CSOs said, adding that it was 鈥渃rystal clear鈥� buses carry more passengers鈥攁n average of 46.5鈥攖han private vehicles, which could carry an average of 1.7 passengers, based on a 2022 Japan International Cooperation Agency report.
The CSOs observed that Artes鈥� suggestion went against a Department of Transportation (DOTr) statement issued also on Wednesday that described the busway 鈥渁s a crucial step toward a progressive public transportation system with 23 stations operating 24/7, affording commuters a safe and reliable option for transport.鈥�
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, the statement said, was waiting for the results of a feasibility study on 鈥渉ow best to improve the Edsa Busway by tapping private sector technical and financial expertise.鈥�
Modified bike lanes
The Move As One Coalition and CSOs also expressed concern about Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla鈥檚 announcement that plans to 鈥渕odify鈥� the bicycle lanes to become a shared space with motorcycles were also discussed.
Remulla said this would reduce the risk of motorcycle riders being involved in road crashes.
鈥淭here is no road safety guidance that suggests that bicycles and motorcycles should mix in the same road space,鈥� the CSOs said, reiterating their position when the MMDA made the same suggestion in 2023.
They also cited Land Transportation Office (LTO) Memorandum Circular No. 2021-2267, which states that 鈥渂icycle lanes are for the sole use of cyclists, nonmotorized transport users, and light mobility vehicle or personal mobility device users.鈥�
The LTO memo said that motor vehicles, 鈥渨ith their weight and potential speed,鈥� would endanger bicycles when they enter bicycle lanes.
Among the CSOs that signed the statement were Make It Safer Movement, CycleSavers, Ilog Pasiglahin Movement, Bicycle Friendly Philippines, Sakay PH, People鈥檚 Budget Coalition, Move Metro Manila, National Confederation of Transportworkers Union, Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa, Komyut, Classic Barkadahan, Safe and Sound Cities Naga, UP School of Economics Student Council, UP Economics Towards Consciousness, and UP Alyansa ng mga Mag-aaral Para sa Panlipunang Katwiran at Kaunlaran.