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Thursday, November 17, 2005
Wenceslao: Rationalizing bridge traffic
By Bong O. Wenceslao
ONE cannot test the correctness of one’s theory if one does not put it in practice. This must have been what was in the minds of the members of the Mactan-Cebu Bridge Management Board when they went ahead with the implementation of its one-way traffic idea for the old Mandaue-Mactan bridge starting Nov. 14. The result? Traffic nightmare.
I don’t have an argument with experiments. But in a tricky matter as traffic rerouting, the admonition is, before implementation, an exhaustive study of the possible effects must be done. This is because traffic disruption has ramifications beyond the grumbling of commuters. There’s an economic side to it.
And how does one know that the experimenters did an exhaustive study before implementing traffic rerouting? Just look at the effect. If less problems are encountered, or only few adjustments are made, that shows the experimenters gathered all the needed data and took into consideration all scenarios before pushing ahead with the experiment.
Members of the bridge management board may shout all they want that they did come up with an exhaustive study. But the test of the pudding, they say, is in the eating. The monstrous traffic jams both in the Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu sides at certain times of the days since the one-way traffic scheme was implemented may yet belie all the claims.
But this one is not just a motorist’s concern. I pity, too, people who rely solely on public utility vehicles to be able to go to school, to the work place and to any place on either side of the so-called bridge cities. The new scheme will force them to adjust not only their schedules but also their budget for fare. That’s bad, in these hard times.
At this stage, however, finger pointing is not the main concern. The idea is for the bridge management board to solve the kinks in a hurry and, if the problems are simply formidable, momentarily go back to the old traffic scheme and come up with a better plan or give up the experiment altogether. There should be an end to the nightmare.
Still, I do agree that we should rationalize the use of the two bridges. Traffic at the second, newer bridge should be maximized while that in the first, older bridge should be eased a bit. But then again the implementation of that rationalization should be handled well. This is a test of the capability of the members of the bridge management board.
TEXTREAX. From Vic Baguio Jr. of Matab-ang, Cordova, Cebu: “The one-way traffic scheme at the old Mactan-Mandaue bridge was meant to ease traffic during peak hours. Since the contrary is happening, logic dictates that we go back to the old system. But who says our government officials are logical?
(khanwens@yahoo.com/0927-2055064)
(November 17, 2005 issue)
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