Road Revolution apologizes, vows to do better

CEBU CITY -- They received bad comments after the second event, but for the people behind the movement, the Road Revolution must go on.

Road Rev advocates apologized Tuesday to the public for the problems caused by the poorly announced Road Rev 2 last Saturday.

But the group is planning yet another Road Rev before the year ends.

“Road Rev will not shut down anytime soon,” said Vince Cinches, 350.org country coordinator, in a press conference in Cebu City.

There is no schedule yet for the next Road Rev, but organizers said it will be held on Osmeña Blvd., where the movement was launched last June 12, Independence Day.

To ensure the next Road Rev will cause less inconvenience to the public, “we came up with a checklist of necessary technical and social preparations,” Cinches said.

The next Road Rev will be held on a Sunday, like the first one, and only one side of the boulevard will be closed to motor vehicles.

Cinches added the organizers are already holding talks with owners of establishments on Osmeña Blvd., as well as drivers of public utility vehicles.

“This is public consultation at its best,” said Joy Martinez-Onozawa, an urban planner and a Road Rev advocate.

The entire stretch of Lopez Jaena and Burgos Sts. and a part of Colon St. were closed to motor vehicles last Saturday for the Road Rev 2, causing traffic jams in other streets.

The activity coincided with a heritage walk by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. and a mass wedding sponsored by the Cebu City Government.

Onozawa clarified that before the mass wedding, the couples were already told they were to walk from the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral to the Plaza Independencia for the wedding reception.

Cinches said the organizers will take into account the comments they received from the public and the media.

The next Road Rev will be “well-announced and well-coordinated,” he said.

Onozawa also responded to observations that Cebu City is not conducive to walking because of the heat.

“Cebu City is very walkable,” she said, adding that the heat in the streets is caused by the soot from vehicles.

“It’s not really the heat. It’s the dirty air,” she said.

Onozawa pointed out that Road Rev is a nationwide effort, present as well in Dumaguete, Puerto Princesa, Subic and other cities.

Ryan Noval, a cyclist, said dependence on cars not only makes people lazy, it also worsens climate change.

“The climate is gonna get hotter because of fossil fuel,” he said.

For the next Road Rev, the organizers plan to set up emission-testing centers for vehicles passing through the other side of the Osmeña Blvd.

There will also be a trade fair of local delicacies. “This is a shorter version but with more activities,” Cinches said.

The organizers also plan to conduct trainings for traffic personnel and volunteers.

Cinches said they aim to have the Road Revolution institutionalized.

“We’re looking at it in the long run. We want it institutionalized. We want barangays to do it on their own,” he said. “What we are experiencing now are normal birthing pains.” (RSB of Sun.Star Cebu)