MMDA is giving half of EDSA to the pedestrians and bikers.
The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced on Monday that a portion of the Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) will follow the road-sharing scheme -- which means halving EDSA in favor of pedestrians and bikers.
On Sunday, June 28, lanes 1 and 2 of EDSA shall be closed from all motorized traffic to give way to the walking public and those riding on their bicycles. This road sharing will take place from 12 am to 11:59 pm on both the south-bound and north-bound lanes, from Ortigas to SM Mall of Asia (MOA) in Pasay.
EDSA shall be divided as follows:
- Lane 1 (lane closest to existing sidewalks) - Walk lane
- Lane 2 - Bike lane
- Lane 3 - City buses
- Lane 4 - Provincial buses and private vehicles (to include motorcycles)
- Lane 5 - Private vehicles
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| Image from Rappler.com |
For those new to the road-sharing scheme, this concept aims "to introduce a transportation system with a reduced number of private cars" and to minimize the air pollution that they bring.
MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino, however, reminds the public that Sunday's activity will only be a "proof of concept" and trial, "so we can see what will happen, if it will work."
If successful, the road-sharing can be repeated on succeeding Sundays, and maybe even during weekends.
8 bus stops only
During the road-sharing event, the city buses will stop only in the 8 official bus stops along the route.
"The buses will not open their doors until the official bus stops," Flaire Benito of the Integrated Bus Operators Association (INTERBOA) said.
Meanwhile, provincial bus operators, to include Victory Liner, Five Star, Ceres, DLTB, Jam, and Philtranco, among others, will be assigned the 4th lane.
The road-sharing scheme will affect buses that have terminals in Pasay and Ortigas. Terminals in Cubao, Kamuning, and Kamias will not be affected, said Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines (PBOAP) Executive Director Alex Yague.
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