New street culture

Amid the  debate on the planned flyover projects in Cebu City’s north district, Cebuanos should also reform their behavior as commuters, pedestrians and motorists.

Chaos in Metro Cebu’s traffic stems not so much from a lack of flyovers and roads, but from lack of political will among transportation and traffic managers and enforcers, and the plain selfishness of drivers, riders and pedestrians.

If order were so important for the Cebu city government, why aren’t enough  clear signs installed in the streets to direct road users?

Near the Capitol, white paint has all but faded from a zebra crossing. People cross Escario Street at their own peril.

Near Gaisano Metro, a “NO STOPPING” sign stands by a jeepney stop.

A few meters away, at midnight, roving City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) personnel play cat-and-mouse with south district- and Talisay City-bound drivers. Sans enforcers, the drivers vie for passengers who embark at the wrong spot.

In streets like Tres de Abril in barangay Punta Princesa, Katipunan in Labangon and Salvador in Guadalupe, jeepneys wait for riders near busy street corners. Drivers wait too long or shout-chat with each other while driving, delaying passengers. They speed off before passengers can disembark properly.

Jeepneys and cabs have “NO SMOKING” signs, but drivers and conductors puff away, damaging people’s lungs with second-hand smoke. Have authorities ever cited a driver or conductor for this violation?

The vehicles have rosaries hanging by the rear view mirror or signs that read, “God knows HUDAS  not pay,” but many drivers and conductors  shortchange  passengers by 50 centavos. That’s stealing at least P15 a month or P180 a year.

Undisciplined drivers of private vehicles  worsen the  problem.

They park on road sides, speed through puddles and splash  bystanders  or annoy  fellow road users with horn honking.

Vendors and residents  crowd sidewalks with barbecue stalls, vulcanizing shops and even extensions of their homes. Pedestrians are forced to jaywalk.

Barangay tanods and officials are lukewarm about discipline. Senators drag their own feet on a Clear Sidewalks Act filed in 2009. Sen. Manuel Villar refiled it last Sept. 15.

Some pedestrians seem incapable of recognizing on sight a “PED XING” and “Don’t walk” sign, or are too lazy to use skywalks.

Swarms of trisikad, habal-habal and tricycle drivers break the rules and ply the main roads. Barangays and chapel groups hold basketball matches and discos smack in the middle of the street.

Would things improve in Cebu City if the government under Mayor Michael Rama releases the delayed salaries of Citom personnel?

Costly changes in road layout won’t buy order. This comes when the law is strictly enforced and road users  keep  their neighbors’ welfare at heart.