Gas Usage and Traffic

Has anybody ever thought of calculating the amount of gas being needlessly spent by all the vehicles that are caught in the morning and afternoon traffic jams at Ateneo de Manila University and Miriam College?

Yesterday morning, the MMDA closed-off the lane going to Gate 2 of the Ateneo from the Katipunan-Aurora flyover. Motorists, caught unawares, were trapped by the traffic that lasted way past the usual 7 a.m. going-to-school rush. It would have helped if the MMDA announced the drastic change in advance, but no, they didn't. Us parents and the school bus service companies could have made adjustments for this had they made the announcement before they implemented the changes.

This change has been the 4th time that they have made changes in the Katipunan Road traffic scheme since June 2008. I am not complaining about the effort that they are exerting; I am even lauding the MMDA for that. What I am peeved at is that the MMDA cannot communicate the changes that they are planning before implementing them. I am appalled at the waste in fuel resulting from the traffic jams created by the very system that seeks to solve the problem.

Calling on the MMDA!!!

In case they have forgotten, they have their own Traffic Radio at 1206 in the AM band and the MMDA Chairman has a weekly TV Program. Why can't these be used to announce the changes that the MMDA seeks to implement? Dozens of tarpaulin advertisements hang in the lampposts at the Katipunan area; why can't they put printed informative announcements if ever they are planning to do some changes in the traffic flow there?

All that we need here is plain common sense. But then, common sense indeed is not common and due to this, we need to endure the traffic and waste gas at Katipunan.