Bike lane sa EDSA, bantay-sarado ng MMDA
Bike lane sa EDSA, bantay-sarado ng MMDA
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00:00 EDSA is monitoring bike lanes and their preparations for the road traffic on the opening of the FIBA World Cup in the country.
00:09 That will be tomorrow. We will talk with Attorney Romando Artes, the chairman of the MMDA. Attorney Artes, good afternoon.
00:19 Good afternoon to you and your followers.
00:24 MMDA is monitoring bike lanes in EDSA. How is your assessment sir? Did anything go wrong in the past few days?
00:34 Yes, there are still many things going wrong despite our warning. We are not yet ticketing and we are just accompanying them.
00:46 I just want to clarify this bike lane policy. This is a program of DOTR. We are enforcing the law.
00:56 In the past, we are following the law. But with the suspension or TRO in NCAP, our countrymen, whether they are riding a motorcycle or four-wheel vehicles,
01:10 have strengthened their resolve to violate the safe space that was set by the DOTR for those who are visiting the country.
01:17 Okay. Chairman, in the past few days, you have been giving warnings to motorists who are violating the law. When will you issue tickets?
01:27 Is it now? In the bike lane?
01:31 We're thinking of next week actually, but we will not announce when because our countrymen know that as long as they know that we will not issue tickets,
01:40 they will continue to violate the safe space for those who are visiting.
01:46 Yes. Okay. All right. Can you explain the plan of the MMDA to make the bike lanes a shared lane in EDSA?
01:55 When will the decision on this be issued? There is a law that these bike lanes are for bicycles. Yes. Attorney.
02:06 Actually, that is what we are studying because according to our data, 165,000 motorcycles pass through EDSA every day as compared to more than 1,000 who ride a bicycle every day.
02:21 So according to our observation, this portion of the road is underutilized. So we will open the discussion while we are studying if this bicycle lane can be a shared lane.
02:41 That is what we are studying. If you can see on the screen, there is still space for the bike lane. There is still space for the motorcycle to be accommodated.
02:58 There are still challenges that need to be studied, such as can they go out and enter overpasses or underpasses?
03:10 Are they only allowed to use motorcycles here in the bike lane? Do they have time? There are still many things to consider that we will study.
03:23 On August 29, we called a stakeholders meeting. The outcome of the study and discussion on this issue, we will submit to the DOTR that it has the right to pass what can be done here in the bike lane.
03:42 Sir I ride my bicycle on Marcos Highway. There is a portion where cyclists can use the sidewalk.
03:51 Yes. I think MMDA has done something there that the bicycle travel is continuous and seamless, just like in Japan. Why not we can do that in EDSA sir?
04:03 Actually, that is part of our discussion on August 29. Because we are thinking that this existing bike lane, whether or not it can be a shared lane, is shared between bicycles and motorcycles.
04:18 Our sidewalks that pedestrians do not use are shared between bicycles and pedestrians. But the long-term solution that we see there, sir Aljo, is to put elevated walkways and bikeways in EDSA.
04:40 That is what we are studying now. We are doing a feasibility study and detailed engineering design if it can be done. The first portion that we saw that the sidewalk is wide is the segment between Guadalupe and Cubao.
04:59 Guadalupe and Cubao. That's good. Pedestrians can also use that. There is a similar thing that was done in Makati. Actually, from De La Rosa, you can go to EDSA.
05:13 This is for pedestrians. You can go to malls. Why not we can do that in EDSA. That's good.
05:20 Actually, what we are thinking is that the southbound side is two-way for bicycles and the pedestrian southbound from Guadalupe to Cubao is also two-way exclusively for pedestrians so they can be separated.
05:41 What is your reaction to the approval of a transport advocacy group that it is dangerous for cyclists if they will make shared bike lanes in EDSA?
05:53 I don't agree with that because when we say that, it's like they are saying that cyclists are all swine or have no discipline. Maybe with proper guidance and proper regulation that will be issued if it is shared,
06:15 our fellow citizens can follow. What's happening is that because there are people who are consenting, like that, that's why their heads are getting harder.
06:27 But I think we can talk about and fix the regulation on how to use the shared bike lane and motorcycle lane if it is implemented.
06:42 We think that the cyclists can still be disciplined so they won't have an accident while cycling.
06:52 Tomorrow, Metro Manila will not allow entry because of the formal opening of FIBA World Cup.
07:01 What is your advice to our motorists who are still leaving their homes tomorrow in Metro Manila?
07:12 Is there a coding? Sir, you have all the freedom to advise our motorists tomorrow.
07:21 First of all, we will not suspend the number coding because we are avoiding or reducing traffic.
07:30 We know that if we suspend the number coding, the number of vehicles on the road increases by 20% more. So it creates a heavy traffic flow. That's why we will not suspend the number coding.
07:44 I am also calling on our fellow citizens if there is nothing important to do tomorrow, to stay at home because the MMDA will implement a stop and go traffic scheme in the selected places while the FIBA World Cup is being held.
08:05 Although the boat will pass through the bus carousel, there are chances that they will leave the bus carousel. That's why the traffic flow will still be heavy.
08:19 Again, I am calling on our fellow citizens if there is nothing important to do outside, to stay inside their homes.
08:29 Is the truck ban effective tomorrow, especially in Bulacan area, Chairman?
08:35 Yes. The truck ban in Bulacan is effective because the opening of the FIBA World Cup here in the Philippines will be held in the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.
08:49 That's why it's better to ban the trucks from leaving the area so that the volume of traffic will be reduced.
08:57 Okay. After the opening on Friday, the FIBA World Cup will be held until September. How are we preparing for this? There's a class that will start.
09:13 Actually, the class has already started in public schools so that the traffic will be reduced next week.
09:20 We are preparing. As I said earlier, the athletes and the delegates will pass through the bus lane.
09:31 Only two venues will be held, the Areneta Center and Moa Arena.
09:38 The teams are limited to the venues nearby so their travel will not be long.
09:47 The stop and go traffic scheme will be used during the time that they will pass through the venue.
09:54 The MMDA will deploy 1,300 plus personnel to man the traffic.
10:01 We will ensure that the effect of the stop and go traffic scheme will be minimized in the nearby venues.
10:09 All right. Thank you very much for your time, Atty. Romando Artes, chairman of the MMDA.