MMDA back on Commonwealth
Commonwealth is one of the widest highways in the country and yet it still suffers from terrible congestion and accidents. Why? Partly because everyone just does whatever they want, regardless of how it effects anyone else.
You have the buses and Jeepneys that load and unload on the second or third lane, instead of pulling over to the side of the road. Not only does this cause traffic but it also forces their passengers to walk in front of active lanes of traffic, putting them at risk of getting hit. This has also trained commuters to stand in the middle of the road just to get a ride.
Then you have the tricycles that continue to use the busy highway, when they know they’re banned. Not only that, but they’ll drive against traffic and even drive on the sidewalks, to save time and a tiny bit of gas.
Next you have the pedicabs who have been warned more times than I can remember, to stay off Commonwealth. Not only do they continue to carry passengers, but like the tricycles, they ride against the flow of traffic. Putting themselves, their passengers and other road users in danger.
Even regular motorcycle riders are often riding against the flow of traffic or using the sidewalk. Why? To save a couple of minutes. That’s ridiculous, really.
And you’ve got all the vulcanizing and car wash shops that have been built along the sidewalks of Commonwealth. They have no parking spaces for their customers, so they block lanes of the busy highway. Most of them don’t have any documentation except for questionable Barangay clearances.
Barangay Commonwealth do actually have traffic enforcers but I’ve yet to see them in action. There are a small number of MMDA enforcers stationed along Commonwealth for basic traffic management, but just as you saw in this video, tricycles know how to evade and run from them. And a single enforcer is unlikely to leave his post to chase someone down.
In my mind, the only thing that will cure Commonwealth is zero-tolerance enforcement. And not just by the MMDA but also from those Barangay Enforcers. And the Barangay or City should demolish the vulcanizing and car wash shops. They don’t have permits and they’re mostly built on government property.
Yes everyone is just trying to earn money to feed their families but is it right that their earnings come at the cost of everyone elses time and safety?
