Editorial

The sanity of traffic

Many commuters and observers gave sighs of relief in appreciating the smooth flow of traffic along Sinsuat Avenue and Quezon Avenue-highway in Cotabato City after the city government implemented the “no parking” edict along these two main thoroughfares.  Police and security forces have been posted along these highways so motorists develop the awareness of the “no parking” scheme and religiously observe or comply with the traffic regulation or else suffer the sanctions for violation.

When this parking scheme becomes a permanent ordinance to decongest traffic, motorists or vehicle owners, mostly private individuals and corporations, have to make their adjustments in doing transactions with establishments located along these highways. If only there are open private-owned spaces, these lots could be invested as parking avenues for a fee like in other urban centers. Anyhow, there are several public utility vehicles plying the two main routes where private motorists have no way to park their vehicles. Big malls have parking spaces for customers/transactors.

Take note, the traffic ordinance in Davao City took years for the mainstay of orderly traffic situation there. But now, this city is facing a heavy traffic crisis as it continues to progress and expand, both in the economic and social spheres. Even its diversion roads are full, a result of the process of urbanization.  The locale has then to restructure its traffic management to cope with urban dynamism.

Really, the urban setting has to ordain an effective traffic landscape to facilitate the economy of time and business transactions. Traffic jams or congestion could only result to pyramidic loses, especially on densely populated districts. Detours and opening of new avenues have to be devised to defuse social and economic activities so as not to further worsen congestion problem. Smooth traffic is good business and so with opening of avenues to decongest transactions. This is part of the essence of urban expansion and development.

If we mean good traffic, motorists, including commuters, have to develop the culture of subserviency to road courtesies and regulations --- parking and no parking, loading and unloading,  entry and no entry, one-way route, and so-forth.

In urban progression, expansion, and dynamism also comes traffic structuring when motorists and commuters have to go along with travel changes in coping with mobility. The culture of motoring and commuting has to be aligned with traffic ordinances and so “we will have good order.”

Brilliant traffic management means convenience, comfort, and good business…this makes a lot of sense.