The lack of sidewalks on Philippine roads is a sign of how our “car-centric” culture has impacted our policy-making.
With all these feats, public policies and priorities must also include the construction of safe, open, and traversable sidewalks for pedestrians, which more often than not are neglected, or undervalued.
ACCORDING to Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar, since July 2016, the Duterte administration was able to accomplish 25,343 km of roads, 5,271 bridges, 9,797 flood mitigation structures, 141, 687 classrooms, and 138 evacuation centers under its ‘Build, Build, Build’ infrastructure program.
New airports, seaports, and the empowerment of the country’s railway system were also one of the more visible milestones of the current administration’s regard to invest on the Philippine’s mobility.
Urban design failure
With all these feats, public policies and priorities must also include the construction of safe, open, and traversable sidewalks for pedestrians, which more often than not, are neglected, or undervalued.
Metro Manila is the best-case study for this urban design failure and years of lack of consideration.
This megacity of ours needs no further introduction for why it's unbearable to walk on its streets and roads.
Unbearable side streets
For many Filipino pedestrians, walking means enduring pollution, the unpredictable weather, dangerous elements, and obviously, the undesirable state of our sidewalks.
Though places like Ayala, BGC, Ortigas, and the Mall of Asia Complex are relatively more favorable, much of sidewalks outside these central business districts are not.
In other words, walking is the least alternative mode of transportation in our country.
Importance
According to the United States Federal Highway Administration (FHA), sidewalks provide many benefits such as safety, mobility, and healthier communities.
Since sidewalks are the ideal place for pedestrians on roadways, it reduces the possibility of pedestrian accidents.
In contrast, roads without sidewalks, are twice as dangerous to pedestrians.
More importantly, accessible walkways for pedestrians considerably strengthen how well pedestrians perceive their needs are recognized and addressed in the road.
The more space the sidewalks have, the more conducive these pedestrian facilities are for its users.
"By providing facilities that are more comfortable, we can increase the number of trips made by walking, particularly in areas with mixed land uses. Providing sidewalks, widened paved shoulders, or stabilized shoulders—particularly when providing access to public transit—can increase the transportation options for individuals who may not be able to drive a car. Additionally, by moving pedestrians off the travel lanes, motorist operations are improved and capacity increased." said the FHA.
In addition, research even show that more people will likely choose to walk for recreational purposes if proper facilities are provided and available.
That is why the Baguio City government has allotted P20 million on its 2020 budget last year, for the construction and rehabilitation of its sidewalks aimed to encourage walking among its citizens.
And for some Local Government Units, along with the Metro Manila Development Authority in the National Capital Region, were vigorous on their respective clearing operations against illegal vendors and other obstructions in the streets.
Public policy
Meanwhile, in the House of Representatives, Congressman Robert Ace Barbers filed House Bill 504 or the Sidewalks and Public Roads Use Act, which aims to tackle the country's problem on its walkways and roadways.
Among the violations on this bill include the prohibition of illegal structures, businesses, stalls, and other obstructions.
However, the bill has yet to be passed.
Sidewalks show our regard on the people and their welfare. After all, the road belongs to the people. (JT)