Where do flyovers belong?

THE proposed flyovers are by themselves not objectionable except for the fact that they may be improperly located and misplaced.  As espoused by the Stop Cebu Flyovers Movement, the flyovers could benefit from a necessary review through  comprehensive planning and urban design.

Traditionally, the city can basically be defined by its boundaries which are the downtown area or the inner urban core from the pier up to Sanciangko St., the uptown area up to Mango Ave., the outer urban core up to Escario St. and the urban fringes which used to be up to Lahug. Today, of course the City has grown tremendously. What used to be rural areas (Banilad up to Talamban) in the 1970s are now our new urban fringes. Even so,  this traditional urban fabric deserves to be preserved if only to maintain the sense of place which we all know and long to be Cebu!

From an urban design perspective, the visual form of the City can emanate from an orderly arrangement of its distinctive elements including “Paths” (flyovers and streets).  By its very nature, flyovers bode well if located at the urban fringes rather than the urban core  because of narrower streets, congestion, pollution, and all the tangibles.

The reason why opposition to the planned flyovers is  more intense than ever today, is precisely because these are now intruding  into the urban core – a very private space which residents consider sacred. A public image of the City is being maintained by large numbers of the City’s inhabitants which they treasure and protect.  With these new flyovers, the traditional sentiments and feelings of Cebuanos are being violated.

The boundaries between the inner urban core (downtown), uptown area,  outer urban core and the urban fringe are another defining element to the City identified by Lynch as the “Edges”. To be able to establish legibility in the City, these edges or boundaries should be inviolable.  Flyovers have no place inside the urban core.

The City could also do well if “Nodes” and “Landmarks” are identified and well-defined.  It could further enhance legibility of the urban fabric. Large infrastructures such as flyovers are normally used as “Nodes” defining entrances or exits to the urban core rather than compete for space inside these areas.

THE NEED TO CONNECT

Filipinos have a natural penchant to “connect”. Social interaction and human relations thrive in a traditionally open and free environment. Streets are normally venues for interaction among residents. Barriers and obstructions to this “need” to connect are not normally acceptable. The flyovers located especially along streets in the urban core impose unwanted barriers to social interaction.

Furthermore, the flyovers pose potential risks to safety and security.  These huge infrastructures create dark and dingy spaces at night which are difficult to police. Reduced visibility  violate the concepts of defensible space and discourage natural surveillance in urban areas which need it most. Such conditions contribute much to the degradation of the urban setting usually commencing a series of reactions from the public.

Residents begin to protect and fortify their properties by constructing higher fences, installing security grilles and hiring security guards. What follows is a general fear of the economically disadvantaged and further segregation of society – the exact opposite of our need to connect.

AN APPEAL

There is no better long-term solution than comprehensive physical planning but this could take some time to realize. Meantime, it is incumbent upon our officials to heed this call to Stop The Cebu Flyovers if only to respect the voice of a resurgent and significant portion of the Cebuano community who yearns to participate in planning their future. The opportunity to rise above personal interests is at hand for every right-minded Cebuano to embrace. May we all be enlightened by this experience and have the courage to keep our hearts and minds open whatever the outcome.