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Sunday, September 11, 2005
Dads unlikely to lift motorcycle ban within CBD
THE Baguio City Council is not likely to repeal the ordinance banning motorcycles along major thoroughfares after the 30-day traffic experiment conducted last May allowing such mode of transportation within the central business district (CBD) elicited negative reviews.
The City Council committee on laws chaired by Councilor Elmer Datuin has recommended that the proposed ordinance of Councilor Perlita Rondez for the repeal of Ordinance 500-1934 be archived, in effect maintaining the prohibition of motorcycles from entering roads with the central business district.
The committee adopted the recommendation of the Traffic Management Branch of the city police, which reported that the experiment conducted as per Resolution 136-2005 resulted to an increase in traffic accidents involving motorcycles within the CBD due to the fact that said area have perilous terrain, are congested and accident-prone.
In the report submitted to Traffic and Transportation Management Committee (TTMC) head Art Orig last July 21, Inspector Samuel Bumangil of the traffic division also said that as seen during the experiment, the motorcycles when entering the CBD during peak hours when vehicles are on a bumper-to-bumper condition "tend to weave left and right from one lane to another, which is very risky to other motorists and pedestrians as well."
He said motorcycles also tend to park on all vacant spaces affecting passage of vehicles and pedestrians.
The police then recommended that the City maintains that motorcycles, scooters and similar modes of transportation be denied entry from Session Road rotunda down to Lower Session Road up to the stretch of Magsaysay Avenue and vice versa, including Luneta Hill and also along General Luna Road anytime of the day and night except only during emergency cases.
The committee recommendation will be discussed by the Council in its meeting Monday, after it earlier approved the traffic experiment to determine the advantages and disadvantages of allowing this mode of transportation within the major roads in view of the proposed repeal of Ordinance 500, which in effect will lift the prohibition on motorcycles.
The proposal drew varied reactions from different sectors of the local community.
Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC)-Cordillera Regional Director Alfredo Mondiguing said the City should maintain the ban on motorcycles with two-stroke engines as these cause pollution.
During a public hearing last February, the Traffic Management Board (TMB) shared the views of the TTMC that only four-stoke motorcycles be allowed and only at the outskirts of the CBD.
Representatives from the motorcycles, scooters and bikers groups supported the lifting of the ban, citing the benefits of using smaller modes of transportation to the city's traffic and environmental condition.
This was supported by the businessmen engaged in delivery of food and services.
Federation of Jeepney Drivers and Operators Associations local chapter president Perfecto Itliong Jr. however suggested an amendment instead of repeal of the ordinance in such a way that motorcycles will be allowed but only at certain times of the day.
(September 11, 2005 issue)
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