PISTON okay with Green Loop activities

CEBU, Philippines - A transport group in Cebu City has backed the “Green Loop” experiment, citing its merits on the city’s development goals.

Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide Cebu coordinator Greg Perez said they are not against the road sharing scheme, which was piloted in General Maxilom Avenue, Gorordo Avenue, Escario Street and Osmeña Boulevard. 

He noted that the experimental road system somewhat contributes to the improvement of the environment and decongests streets.

However, he said the city government has to “restudy” the impacts of the green loop initiative considering the narrow roads in the said pilot routes and in some other thoroughfares in the metropolis.

“Dili mi supak anang programa. Apan ang problema gagmay ang atong kadalanan kun galing ipatuman ni. Sakto lamang nga tan-awon na sa lokal nga kagamhanan ang pagpatuman ug pagpahiluna aning road sharing experiment,” he said.

Perez said further that he will be meeting his members to thoroughly discuss the scheme, particularly its effects on the transport sector in Cebu.

As to the traffic, City Traffic Operations Management Executive Director Rafael Yap said heavy traffic formed along the pilot routes as early as 3 p.m. yesterday.

“As anticipated, the traffic was heavy due to the narrow roads but the vehicles were moving, no chokepoints and no untoward incidents,” he said.

At least 30 traffic enforcers were deployed to assist motorists and handle the flow of traffic considering that the lanes were shared by motorists, pedestrians and vehicles, he said.

Also, Yap said the sidewalks were crowded due to various activities like zumba, yoga, flow arts, puso-making, biking clinics, skateboarding clinics and arnis, among others showcased during the four-hour experiment.

Movement for a Livable Cebu lead convenor Marc Canton earlier said they are eyeing to conduct more experiments to determine if the road sharing scheme is really effective, efficient and viable. MLC was one of the organizers of the event.

Canton said the event was “almost successful” despite some concerns and issues that need to be addressed by the organizers, like pedestrian not following traffic rules. He added that the activity will be assessed, particularly on its social impacts.

“Traffic inconvenience given naman na. We will collect all the feedbacks and find out what we can do,” he said.

He said motorists suggested to have the experiment implemented from midnight to early morning to avoid traffic congestion, something he considers impossible as carrying out the experiment during those hours will defeat its purpose.  (FREEMAN)