23 groups oppose plan to close Edsa busway
A total of 23 civil society organizations (CSOs) on Thursday expressed their opposition to the government’s plan to close the Edsa busway and allow motorcycles to use the bike lanes on Metro Manila’s busiest thoroughfare.
In a statement, the CSOs led by safer and more humane public transport advocate Move As One Coalition asked the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and other national agencies “to work together to put the needs of pedestrians, including those who take public transportation, and people on bicycles, above all other road users.
“All of us are pedestrians, and a significant number are choosing to walk or cycle to work and school and to access social services,” they said.
The groups added that they were “gravely concerned and baffled” by the pronouncements of the MMDA and the DILG heads following the Feb. 4 meeting that President Marcos convened at Malacañang to discuss the MMDA’s comprehensive traffic management plan for Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
Their statements, according to the CSOs, contradicts the transportation policy statement in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 that puts the needs of pedestrians and cyclists above those of other road users.
Redundant
At a press briefing on Wednesday after the Malacañang meeting, MMDA Chair Romando Artes said there was a proposal to shut down the Edsa busway once the passenger capacity of the Metro Rail Transit 3 was expanded. With the MRT3 able to accommodate more passengers, the bus lane would be redundant since both ply the same route, he stressed.
Artes suggested the Edsa busway be turned into a “special lane” that may be used by “high occupancy vehicles” or private vehicles with three to four passengers.
“This suggestion makes no sense. What could be higher occupancy than a bus?” the CSOs said, adding that it was “crystal clear” buses carry more passengers—an average of 46.5—than private vehicles which could carry an average of 1.7 passengers, based on a 2022 Japan International Cooperation Agency report.
The CSOs observed that Artes’ suggestion went against a Department of Transportation (DOTr) statement issued also on Wednesday that described the busway “as a crucial step toward a progressive public transportation system with 23 stations operating 24/7, affording commuters a safe and reliable option for transport.”
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, the statement said, was waiting for the results of a feasibility study on “how best to improve the Edsa Busway tapping private sector technical and financial expertise.”
Modified bike lanes
The Move As One Coalition and CSOs also expressed concern about Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s announcement that plans to “modify” the bicycle lanes to become a shared space with motorcycles were also discussed.
Remulla said this would reduce the risk of motorcycle riders being involved in road crashes.
“There is no road safety guidance that suggests that bicycles and motorcycles should mix in the same road space,” the CSOs said, reiterating their position when the MMDA made the same suggestion in 2023.
They also cited Land Transportation Office (LTO) Memorandum Circular No. 2021-2267, which states that “bicycle lanes are for the sole use of cyclists, nonmotorized transport users, and light mobility vehicle or personal mobility devices users.”
The LTO memo said that motor vehicles, “with their weight and potential speed,” would endanger bicycles when they enter bicycle lanes.
Among the CSOs that signed the statement were Make It Safer Movement, CycleSavers, Ilog Pasiglahin Movement, Bicycle Friendly Philippines, Sakay PH, People’s Budget Coalition, Move Metro Manila, National Confederation of Transportworkers Union, Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa, Komyut, Classic Barkadahan, Safe and Sound Cities Naga, UP School of Economics Student Council, UP Economics Towards Consciousness and UP Alyansa ng mga Mag-aaral Para sa Panlipunang Katwiran at Kaunlaran.
