IT HAS been a while since I’ve been back to the downtown area, so I don’t know what the situation on the sidewalks is.

But I do know what it’s like in front of the Abellana Police Station at the corner of R.R. Landon St. and Osmeña Blvd. in Cebu City.

Despite several “no parking” signs, motorcycles still occupy most of the sidewalks.

I don’t know if these are owned by police officers working in the station or if these belong to visitors, but I do know that these take up space reserved for pedestrians like pupils from City Central and students from the Abellana National High School down the road.

Since the motorcycles are on the sidewalk, when it’s time to leave, obviously their drivers have no choice but to drive on the sidewalk.

Motorcycles, though, are not the only culprits. Sometimes patrol cars block the entire sidewalk, forcing pedestrians to the side of the road.