...manila is 3rd worst
By jeanneyvonne
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
Philippines
April 19, 2012 9:26am CST
...when it comes to driving in the streets.
Personally, it is under stable that the nation's capital will be on the list. The capital has the infamous reputation from a quotation, 'If you can drive in manila, you can drive in any place in the world." Now, it is considered to the 3rd among the wold, after Beijing and New Delhi.
Another reason is that Manila is the capital and its a congested city. Almost all Filipinos want to flock and live in Manila. So it means more people, more cars or vehicles and more drivers.
Thirdly, we have this culture thing that we like to cross the street in the middle of traffic. and sometimes, our drivers consider themselves a authority in the streets.
I cannot clearly judge Manila but I have heard of its reputation. I cannot even compare ti to otehr capitals tat I visited because of the culture, the people and the rules implemented on the streets.
So, do you think our capital deserve this rank. Some people think it should be at the top of the list. Should the government agency be blamed? the drivers? Commuters?
6 responses
@asdomencil (4265)
• Philippines
21 Apr 12
I think it is true but we can't blame this to a single cause. First, you can see how drivers manipulate their vehicles, especially buses and other PUVs. They will load and unload commuters anywhere. To add, motocycle drivers that will keep on overtaking even in between huge vehicles. ?
Second, commuters. Even they will put specific areas for bus stop, they will keep on waiting on areas they are comfortable not considering the right areas for loading and unloading. Also, some commuters will get mad on drivers if the bus will not stop on the area they want to go dow.?Third, too much volume of PUVs in Manila can be also a factor. Another one, the government must be strictly enforcing the issuance of driver's license. As of now, anyone who knows how to handle steering wheel and pedals can get their license. Unlike in other countries, you will be given special permit first and learn how to drive for a specific time frame. After that, an officer will join you and will observe how you drive. That will be the time to determine if you can acquire for license. They must also emphasize the discipline in driving.
@asdomencil (4265)
• Philippines
23 Apr 12
Yeah, we must start soling problems like this by our own way and not rely on the ways how government resolve this issues. Each of us, by having discipline on the road especially in Manila could really do a great impact in solving this problem. I heard that previously Thailand, Bangkok was on the list but now they are removed knowing that there are always traffic in the said city. This is because the people there were disciplined that when there are traffic, they will just stay on their lane a avoid swerving causing traffic worse.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
22 Apr 12
very good points. I just hope that we can stop complaining and start working on that issue. we have a long way to go and we need to start now. I tihnk we have our own fair share of the problem and we need to reverse that and turn it into solutions. It's gonna be a long long time before we can reverse this. we need to work as society to solve this problem. It's now or never. Else, we're gonna be suffering from long traffic hours.
@jonnifc (1017)
• Philippines
21 Apr 12
Well I can only judge the top 2 cities according to what I see in media. I do think that they are probably worse because they have a lot of bicycles and motorcycles. Manila has a lot of motorcycles too but not as many as those in New Delhi. But if changes are not made in Manila, we might be going up the list. I notice that motorcycle riders drive like they are buses and bus drivers drive like they are driving a motorcycle. And jeepney drivers stop anywhere. Pedestrians don't know how to properly cross the road. It's just chaotic and crazy!
I grew up in a suburb of Manila and even I am scared of driving in Manila city itself. I'm not really that scared of the drivers and the driving conditions. What scares me are the traffic enforcers. I don't want to be flagged down by an MMDA or local police and be charged with made up offenses just to get money out of me. I won't ever bribe a cop so I might get a ticket if that happens to me. I guess the mix of all the problems I mentioned just makes Manila deserving of the dishonor brought about by the ranking. But if I know Manila drivers, they will think this is something to be proud of. Because since they can drive successfully in their city, they feel that they are better or more adept than others who are lower in the list.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
22 Apr 12
That's another concern - the people who enforce the traffic laws are sometimes are astray with their own duties. Practically, all the player sin the context have problem and I hope that i am mistaken that this problem will go worse.
I think there is nothing wrong with using bicycles and motorcycles,a s long as people know how to properly use them on the road and they use the sidewalks instead of the actual road (for bicycles). I seen many cyclists in Japan and they have a very good system using bicycle as a transport.
As for Manila driers, I don't what kind of pride they are putting this issue and its context. they might have probably have advanced driving skills, but technically, they are a big part of the problem.
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
23 Apr 12
I think partly to blame are the agencies responsible for issuing drivers licenses, not just in Manila but that goes for the whole country. What amazes me is when vehicles come side to side with a distance thinner than a hair strand . Public utility vehicles often do this and cutting you seems to be an art for them
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32654)
• Calgary, Alberta
19 Apr 12
I didnt know why they want to flock in Manila when the job opportunities are in Cebu, Makati and Taguig. Those 3 mentioned have more job opportunities to offer more than Manila.
You know aside from the MRT and LRT, we need to have cable cars as additional form of transport. We also need additional train stations, we know a lot of our train stations are obsolete.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
20 Apr 12
Well, we all have this mindset that everything is better at Manila. Even other people call Manila as 'imperial manila'. They think that going to Manila will solve all the problems without considering the ratifications of such thinking.
We definitely need a make-over in transportation department. We can add some public transportation vehicles but taht's gonna cost us. At least with cable cars, they can be run by electricity and not be gasoline. It is just sad that we having a crisis sin both resources.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
20 Apr 12
I agree that both sides of the population should be blamed. I will admit to my own pedestrian wrongdoing and I am also at the receiving end of both bad driers and fellow bad pedestrians. I also kinda didn't like eh complaining attitude of the chief of MMDA. It's better to acknowledge the truth because already people says it is the truth. they are teh ones who experience it everyday. He should have taken it as a challenge. Why blame the entity who published the truth?
@jureathome (5361)
• Philippines
19 Apr 12
From what I see in the news everyday - road accidents, traffic jams, etc.. it deserves a rank on the list. I'm just not sure how it compares to other capital cities, but I would agree with whoever is doing the list. I just can't imagine having to bear and using those congested streets everyday.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
20 Apr 12
That is also the reason why I cannot judge or compare Manila to other cities or capital. Sure, we all have and experience traffic but there are factors that we can eliminate to make the situation easier and bearable. It doesn't have to a hellish day to get form one place to another. Like you, I don;t know how teh resident bear with it. maybe just preserving themselves for another day, I guess.