Senators question proposed Edsa exclusive lane for motorcycles

Senators Grace Poe and Nancy Binay. FILE PHOTOS

MANILA, Philippines — Two senators on Monday questioned proposals to put up an exclusive motorcycle lane along Edsa, pointing out that fact-based study and accurate data are needed to solve perennial traffic in Metro Manila and not “mere experiments.”

READ: Gov’t eyes Edsa motorcycle lane to address traffic woes

For her part, Senator Grace Poe said the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) proposal is “understandable,” but she admitted that she is “curious” how the agency would create a dedicated lane in Edsa considering the limited road space in the area.

“Are they intending to share it with bike lanes? Should it be standardized across all highways? The varying placements of motorcycle lanes can be confusing to motorists who traverse multiple highways daily,” said Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public services, in a statement.

“These are just some of the concerns that must be addressed with actual data and not just mere experiments that can cause further confusion in our already chaotic roads,” she emphasized.

According to Poe, proposals such as this only highlight the pressing need for the creation of an “independent fact-based agency” similar to the National Transportation Safety Board which would be tasked to come up with data and “institute standards” for the designation of motorcycle lanes.

Senator Nancy Binay, on the other hand, said putting up a motorcycle-dedicated lane to address traffic woes is a mere band-aid solution to the perennial traffic problem.

“The reason why such alternative rides exist is because our public infrastructures fail to address urban mobility challenges — puro palliative at short-term palagi. Kaya, huwag po sana tayong mag-dwell sa mga polisiya na maglilihis sa mass transit solutions,” said Binay in a separate statement also on Monday.

(The reason why such alternative rides exist is because our public infrastructures fail to address urban mobility challenges — all we have is palliative and short term solutions. That’s why let us not dwell on policies that will only veer us away from mass transit solutions.)

Instead, Binay advised the DOTr to focus its efforts on building safe, comfortable, and robust mass transportation. In doing so, she said there is a need to “prioritize investments” to ensure efficient public transit systems such as buses and trains.

Binay questioned why the Philippines is focusing on a “single passenger alternative” when the government has yet to “fully maximize” the potential of Metro Rail Transit and bus lanes.

“Di ba kulang pa rin ang mga tumatakbong bagon, siksikan pa rin sa bus at tren? Kawawa yung mga daily commuter na sumasakay papasok ng trabaho na preskong nakabihis at nakaporma, kasi nagiging mandirigma sila pagdating sa opisina,” she said.

(Isn’t there still a shortage of running wagons? It remains crowded in buses and trains. I pity our daily commuters who ride these transportations when going to work. They are often dressed comfortably because most of the time they become warriors when they arrive at the office.)

Use AI simulators instead of treating us as ‘guinea pigs’

Meanwhile, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero pointed out that the proposal has been tried in the past, citing the “blue lane” intended for motorcycles.

It then led him to ask: Did it work?

“It’s good though that they are continually looking for solutions to the traffic problem but, if at all, can they please do simulations thru AI simulators of whatever they are considering to do instead of implementing it and using us as guinea pigs?,” said Escudero.