TRAPPED in traffic? A wrong turn. Waze mistake. A sudden downpour with some flooding. A stalled vehicle in your lane. All this may lead Juan to get stuck and trapped in traffic.
Peak season? Another thing to be aware of. Cool climate. A long weekend. Holy Week. Before Christmas and New Year. New and open expressways or highways. All of these will make Juan travel and get out of the metro and find some respite from all the hassle and bustle of city life.
While locals seem the most affected, visitors just seem to not get enough of their chosen destination. Juan will argue, traffic as an effect but for them, it is just a normal occurrence. An everyday thing.
Not to us of course. We are all affected. Any Juan would. All forgiven, understood. Some normal reaction.
Allow me this. I would like to share my experience from all this. Juan may not have the same thought or idea, however this is mine and I have asked permission. It is my story and column anyway. Not a blog, OK.
I don't rant, I won't. However, I share my story and experience. I plan. When things go wrong I definitely get very stressed and disappointed. Just like any Juan.
That is why I plan my trip. I would travel at the wee hours just to avoid such. It just takes me so little time to reach the metro and back. I never mind, I don't sleep anyway. At that time, I am less stressed as it is also less hot and good for the vehicle plus fuel consumption. My speed just regulated and I won't have to race with any Juan.
I never need to rush early in the morning as there is nothing to do anyway for any Juan. Everything is closed. Gas stops and food stops are where it's at. A place to rest and stretch, a good trap.
Being trapped however from a wrong decision to time and place to travel will set you off to be trapped. Remember, when Juan is trapped, then there is no way to turn back. Remember there are no u-turns along EDSA, once Juan is caught in the trap, then that is it. There is just no turning back. Three hours it is till the end either going north or south.
There are also no u-turns in SLEX, SCTEX, NLEX, TPLEX or even Star Tollways. When an accident occurs and beyond your control, surely another trap. Every Juan will be in front and behind you plus the one at your left and right.
The odds too of a planned travel will surely eliminate accidents or some delay when timed right. Most of my travels don't even force me to find a comfort room as it is so fast. In three hours I find myself in my destination, all because it was planned.
Even while doing errands, avoid traps. Check your time. Never on a Monday or Friday. Avoid the Central Business District. Walk if you must to avoid being trapped.
Of course plan ahead, by traveling an hour before, Juan just gets to his destination whether something comes up or not. It is always better to be early. Enjoy a cup of coffee or dress up while waiting.
When trapped in a flooded area, even when I can cross with my off-road vehicle, I am still trapped especially when Juan is stuck and wouldn't want to cross. A vehicle at my back will definitely trap and box my vehicle.
Baguio, my city, lately has had its fare share of trapped instances for travelers, tourist and locals alike. Jeepneys and taxis seem to suffer the most, aside from the riding public. They are always trapped and "wawa" si Manong driver. Lost income for sure.
Legally, a jeepney cannot jump or cut its line or route. An officer can flag them for this infraction. At times, some quarrel with other jeepney drivers for breaking that line. So when trapped in traffic, no way for them to turn and head of to another way.
I also know that when they get to their destination jeepney drivers are so tired and have lost so much time that they will not gamble to venture back. Knowing of the trap heading back. Backload passengers gone too as they might have cancelled or walked instead. Jeeps will just instead be parked. A long line of passengers awaits, but for nothing.
Taxis, Grab or Uber surely will take every Juan but again at a premium to Juan. Some choosy driver avoiding a certain destination knowing where traffic traps would be.
I would also instead pay a premium when traveling by taking the expressways. I know there are no slow vehicles to trap me. No tricycle or jeepney that stops and goes whenever they want for some Juan.
I also travel at night knowing that there won't be container trucks or delivery vans as the end point will still surely be closed. I avoid another trap.
I will put petroleum in my vehicle at night when temperature is at its lowest thus maximizing content unlike when hot and gasses evaporate faster. The airconditioner and motor runs better when cooler.
Even when heading to the airport I would usually consider first the time of departure for when travel time to the airport terminal is also less of a trap. Being late for a flight is so stressful. Schedule a flight with a travel consideration. Better going early as the food there is good anyway.
Don't be trapped, avoid this by planning every trip. Be it to the bank, to school for the kids, coding, an errand or location, PLAN. It can be a TRAP.