Pedestrian Lanes in the Philippines - No Use?

@veronizm (907)
Philippines
August 22, 2009 8:51am CST
Are pedestrian lanes in the philippines not worth it? We have so many pedestrian lanes in our streets but it seems that most, if not all, drivers don't know how to stop or even slow down when nearing a pedestrian lane. instead, the pedestrians themselves are the ones who are slowing down, letting cars/trucks/motorcycles pass by first before crossing the street. i've heard from so many friends and relatives who have lived in western countries that they have no problem in crossing the street because vehicles are supposed to stop and give pedestrians the first priority. but in the philippines, i can only count the number of times wherein a driver realy stopped his vehicle to let me cross. most are just speeding by without even bothering to slow down. so with this normal scenario in our country, are pedestrian lanes still worth it? what are your insights about this?
2 people like this
10 responses
• Philippines
10 Sep 09
They are worth it, but the problem is, drivers in the Philippines if not all of them seem not to know what traffic rules are. Apparently, as I perceive it, they do not know that they should slowdown up a bit on these areas. Drivers lack discipline and they do not know how to respect pedestrians. No wonder there are lots of accidents on the roads risking life and limb of people around them as well as properties.
• Philippines
10 Sep 09
I have experienced the same thing, too. There were times that I really take minutes before I can cross a street...waiting for the traffic to clear-up. Even on heavy traffic sometimes you get the risk of being hit since there are irresponsible drivers who just hit on the gas without looking ahead if they would hit someone or something.
@veronizm (907)
• Philippines
10 Sep 09
I know what you mean. They really don't know the rules! Most especially the PUV/PUJ drivers. Just two days ago I was riding on a v-hire (front seat) on my way home. The driver was really speeding up as he was overtaking and when we reached a pedestrian lane, there was one pedestrian who was about to cross the street and was about to get hit by the v-hire. The pedestrian was so mad he banged on the vhire door. And then, the driver got mad! I was about to tell him that it was his fault since he was supposed to stop/slow down on a pedestrian lane but I was afraid he might get angry on me instead. We were seated next to each other. What a sad reality...
1 person likes this
@KaraKATAD (246)
• Philippines
7 Sep 09
I think that they're no use because some drivers don't have common courtesy. Actually, just this month my schoolmate got run over by a taxi while trying to cross the road! She didn't die, but she very well could have! I think that pedestrian lanes could be useful if only people would pay attention to the law and try to keep others safe.
@veronizm (907)
• Philippines
7 Sep 09
Oh! I'm so sorry to hear about your schoolmate! Indeed, even in school zones where pedestrian lanes are very visible, cars won't even slow down to let pedestrians pass! And some would even blame the pedestrians for being hit! The sad fact is that most drivers don't know what these lanes are for when it's supposed to be a part of their driving lessons.
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
22 Aug 09
well.. quite a lot of iron hand and disciplining to do to the people who crosses the street as if they own it... no use... even if the streets are barricaded, i see people going over them!!! they would even cross the highway!!!
@veronizm (907)
• Philippines
23 Aug 09
hi! well i do agree that some people do need disciplining when it comes to crossing the streets, especially in the highway because vehicles are expected to speed up on highways. but i'm talking about pedestrian lanes here in which i do think that motorists should slow down when they approach one. pedestrian lanes are supposedly made for pedestrians (as what it's name is =]) in order for them to cross the streets safely. but yes, people should be careful when crossing the highway. i don't see a lot of pedestrian lanes in highways though so it's expected that people shouldn't cross it. what i do see in highways are skywalks. so pedestrians should use those instead =]
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
22 Aug 09
hello Veronizm. The pedestrian lanes have been created or placed in different areas in the metro for pedestrians to be able to cross safely. The problem is, drivers here in the Philippines don't know that they are supposed to stop when they come across designated pedestrian lanes. Some drivers will be even be so rude that they will blast their horns to speed up pedestrians who are crossing the street. Tax payers have paid for those pedestrian lanes. The problem here is that people don't seem to know what it's for.
@veronizm (907)
• Philippines
23 Aug 09
hi anne! i know what you mean :) that's exactly my point. i mean, between the motorist and a pedestrian, the pedestrian is always the one on the difficult end when he/she's on the streets. so i think motorists should at least show some courtesy to let pedestrians pass especially when they use the pedestrian lane. yup, people here don't seem to know what the pedestrian lane is for :(
• Philippines
27 Aug 09
I have the same observations too. Seems as though no one seems to be paying attention to them and just cross whenever they want. this is despite the traffic aide personnel around, and they do not seem to be doing much about it either, which is why more and more people are violating the traffic rules.
• Philippines
24 Aug 09
This is very true and very sad to say majority of the drivers in the philippines don't have discipline in driving and they hardly even know road signs. It is really frustrating and the pedestrians should be the priority and i really don't know about these jeepney drivers that are not so knowledgable about traffic rules. some are traffic obeyers though but there are unanimously outnumbered by the undisciplined drivers.
@veronizm (907)
• Philippines
30 Aug 09
I agree with you. I think the reason on why there are so many jeepney drivers not knowing traffic rules is because most of them didn't take formal driving lessons. Also, issuance of driver's license here in our country is not that difficult/strict (unlike in western countries), that is why most drivers are not so competent/disciplined. A sad reality, yes.
@rsa101 (37952)
• Philippines
25 Aug 09
With the increasing of car volume on the streets and the congestion in traffic we are experiencing pedestrian lanes seem to really become useless because drivers are all in a hurry to pass through these crossings and road corners. People are also to blame since sometimes they too are the ones that put themselves at risk by crossing without really looking if the traffic are still on green light or not. That is why in some major roads here in manila they are putting the pedestrians above the roads to avoid these accidents and to have a continuous flow of traffic and people crossing roads, although some people insist in risking crossing busy sections of some major road.
• Philippines
23 Aug 09
I don't want to think that way, cause they're still useful. However, there are just many Filipinos who doesn't follow the rules and yet are all hard-headed and has lack of discipline. I know it just suck, but if we know they do it wrong, why follow? The problem to us is that when see other people doing wrong things we tend to follow them because we see them doing, and that's the easiest way out. But I think the MMDA is doing good, and it had lessened people crossing the streets. The signs are helpful and I see some people follow those. I still have hope for the discipline for the Filipinos, it'll goes nice and slow.. Hopefully eventually..
@sandymay16 (1617)
• Philippines
22 Aug 09
maybe in manila or big cities but in my city, seldom does a driver stops when nearing the pedestrian lanes. Most times the driver would stop and let the people cross the street. there is no traffic light and no traffic aide either (or he is just watching from the sidelines) But when people not using pedestrian lanes when crossing the street, hey that's jaywalking. i think, the government build skywalks so people and drivers don't meet, LOL on the pedestrian lanes.
@eichs1 (1934)
• Philippines
25 Aug 09
I can't remember when and where I last saw a well-painted pedestrian lane here in Metro Manila. If there's one, the paint are no longer visible. And you are right, even if there's one, it is useless for the drivers don't know why pedestrian lanes are made on the first place and many pedestrians don't know that on those lanes with no visible traffic light on sight, they have the right to go first before any vehicle. We are really grateful that the overpass is invented. Or else, the pedestrians can cross the streets without fear.