. 24/7 Space News .
CAR TECH
Cyclists battle Philippine capital's 'Carmageddon'
by Staff Writers
Manila (AFP) Oct 27, 2015


Cyclist Jack Yabut is on a perilous and likely futile crusade to help the Philippine capital beat "Carmageddon", but even if his campaign fails -- he will have saved time on his own commute.

Traffic in the megacity of 12 million people has reached crisis levels this year, as record car sales have added to long-term problems of decrepit railways, a stunted road network and a law-of-the-jungle driving culture.

In response to the worsening traffic, President Benigno Aquino recently deployed extra police to some of Manila's worst choke points with orders for them to force recalcitrant drivers to obey laws.

But, with relatively little infrastructure spending underway, Aquino has been widely seen as otherwise helpless in trying to ease what enraged commuters and the national press have branded "Carmageddon".

Cycling has barely featured in the discussion of remedies but Yabut, part of a growing community of daredevil bike riding advocates, believes that is a mistake.

"Cycling offers an immediate solution to the traffic and pollution problems," Yabut, 55, told AFP after dodging trucks and buses while riding along EDSA, one of the city's most important and gridlocked roads.

While commuters in cars or on over-crowded buses regularly spend more than two hours travelling just 15 kilometres (nine miles) along EDSA and its arteries, Yabut does that in under 30 minutes.

"It seems crazy to me to be stuck in traffic when you can cycle so much more quickly."

But, for most drivers, cyclists such as Yabut are the crazy ones.

- Killer roads -

Cycling fatalities are common, and tens of thousands of people have signed online petitions calling for authorities to improve road safety conditions for bike riders.

"It is very dangerous," acknowledged Yabut, a father-of-two and president of cycling advocacy group The Firefly Brigade.

Advocates are lobbying for bike lanes, which are nearly non-existent, as well as to educate drivers that cyclists have the right to share the roads.

"Opening bike lanes is one part of it. But the bigger effort is changing people's perceptions and attitudes," Yabut said.

Among the dangers, cyclists have to negotiate mini-bus "jeepneys" and buses that randomly stop in the middle of roads for passengers, or sweep out suddenly into lanes meant for oncoming traffic.

Most drivers also routinely ignore pedestrian crossings and block intersections at traffic lights, while indicators are rarely used and poorly enforced emission standards mean badly polluting vehicles roam free.

One of the chief strategists for the capital's transport network, Emerson Carlos, said cyclists should be an important part of the traffic solution.

But, in a candid interview, he said there were few options for them and the ideal of bikes sharing the road with vehicles was unwise.

"It is not safe for cyclists to share the roads with motor vehicles," said Carlos, the Metro Manila Development Authority's assistant general manager for operations.

He said city authorities were trying to establish bike lanes but only on footpaths where there were already many other obstacles, such as electric poles, illegally parked cars and pedestrians.

"The problem is cyclists were an afterthought. We can't move the electric poles," he said.

- Urban dreams -

Meanwhile, Carlos and other city planners appear focused on much bigger problems.

With a fast-growing middle class, the Philippines is in the midst of an unprecedented car-buying frenzy.

An extra 600,000 new vehicles are expected to hit the capital's roads this year, taking the total to three million, according to Carlos.

"Where are all those cars going to go? We already don't have enough roads," Carlos said.

Global road navigation app Waze recently reported that Manila had the world's worst traffic, based on a survey of its users and its own data.

Carlos lamented the lack of other options for commuters, citing figures showing the city's rail network was much smaller than in Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and other Southeast Asian capitals.

"It's pathetic," he said of the rail network. "We need an efficient, safe and comfortable mass transport system."

A "Dream Plan" recently adopted by the government to fix the urban chaos envisages 65 billion dollars of infrastructure spending over the next 15 years, which would include building a subway system.

But, in a nation bedevilled by government corruption and a chaotic democracy that has seen similar strategies collapse, most people expect the plan will remain a dream.

With few other solutions, cycling offers the opportunity for quick and cheap "big wins" in the traffic war, according to Julia Nebrija, another bike riding advocate and a prominent urban planner.

"It's not rocket science. And it will have a big impact," she said, citing measures such as creating cycling lanes on major roads that have the space, building bike racks at transport hubs and installing showers at offices.

Nebrija and Yabut said one district in the capital had successfully started to introduce a bike network, proving it was possible.

In the meantime, Yabut intends to continue riding with an almost missionary zeal, hoping that his high-stakes, traffic-beating exploits will inspire others.

"We need people to be role models... to be crazy enough to bicycle, so that motorists and pedestrians will be encouraged to bicycle too," he said.


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


.


Related Links
Car Technology at SpaceMart.com






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

Previous Report
CAR TECH
Tesla sells over 3,000 cars in China in 9 months: firm
Shanghai (AFP) Oct 23, 2015
US electric carmaker Tesla Motors sold more than 3,000 cars in China, the world's biggest auto market, in the first nine months of this year, it said Friday. The company has struggled in the Chinese market despite early positive media coverage, building up an inventory of unsold cars and laying off staff. The firm's founder Elon Musk told the media earlier this year: "China is the only p ... read more


CAR TECH
Russia touts plan to land a man on the Moon by 2029

Watch worn by US astronaut on Moon sells for $1.6 mn

Europe-Russia Lunar mission will make them friends again

Mound near lunar south pole formed by unique volcanic process

CAR TECH
Martian skywatchers provide insight on atmosphere, protect orbiting hardware

Landing site recommended for ExoMars 2018

You too can learn to farm on Mars

The Martian Astrobiologist

CAR TECH
NASA Marks Completion of Test Version of Key SLS Propulsion System

Lockheed begins full-scale assembly and test of Orion

The Study of Science through Popular Movies

Reentry data will help improve prediction models

CAR TECH
The Last Tiangong

China aims to go deeper into space

Latest Mars film bespeaks potential of China-U.S. space cooperation

Exhibition on "father of Chinese rocketry" opens in U.S.

CAR TECH
Between the Ears: International Space Station Examines the Human Brain

High-Tech Methods Study Bacteria on the International Space Station

Astronaut Scott Kelly to break US spaceflight record

RSC Energia patented inflatable space module for ISS

CAR TECH
Initial launcher assembly is completed for Arianespace's Vega mission with LISA Pathfinder

Ariane 5 is delivered for Arianespace's sixth heavy-lift mission of 2015

ORBCOMM Announces Launch Window For Second OG2 Mission

10th Anniversary of the Final Titan

CAR TECH
The Exoplanet Era

Scientists Predict that Rocky Planets Formed from "Pebbles"

NASA's K2 Finds Dead Star Vaporizing a Mini 'Planet'

Cosmic 'Death Star' is destroying a planet

CAR TECH
Researchers take cue from spider glue in efforts to create new materials

Researchers use common 3-D printer to rebuild heart

Super-slick material makes steel better, stronger, cleaner

NASA Takes Lasercom a Step Forward









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.