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'Tactical urbanism': More walkable, bikeable cities pushed to ease Metro Manila traffic

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/11/26/20200926-bike-friendly-moa-gc-0034.jpg"/><figcaption>Bike riders pass by the globe near the facade of the Mall of Asia in Pasay City, Sept. 26, 2020. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - An urban planning expert on Thursday called on the government to make Metro Manila&#x27;s streets more inviting for pedestrians and cyclists amid the COVID-19 pandemic as part of &quot;tactical urbanism&quot; to the capital region&#x27;s perennial traffic problem.</p><p>Architect Felino &quot;Jun&quot; Palafox proposed to make more &quot;walkable and bikeable&quot; cities while roads are not too clogged due to quarantine restrictions. This is also a more practical, and climate-friendly approach to improve mobility in the metro.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s an opportunity na habang may pandemic, gumawa ng more walkable cities, bikable cities,&quot; he told Teleradyo.</p><p>(It&#x27;s an opportunity that while there&#x27;s a pandemic, let&#x27;s make more walkable cities, bikable cities.)</p><p>Amid the threat of COVID-19 spread, Palafox said reallocating road spaces to people on foot and cycles are the best modes of transportation while observing physical distancing.</p><p>&quot;Walking, biking and even motorcycles are the best modes to transportation with social distancing,&quot; he said. &quot;It&#x27;s environment-friendly, democratic and affordable. Everybody can do that.&quot;</p><p>Meanwhile, in the capital&#x27;s major thoroughfare, Palafox suggested of creating elevated walkways to help decongest EDSA.</p><p>The highway has been plagued by monstrous traffic jams because it is equivalent to 8 roads such as major and minor arterial roads, and residential and shopping access roads, he added.</p><p>&quot;EDSA is about 8 parallel roads. Nasaan &#x27;yung parallel road? Nasa gated military camp, gated communities kaya punong-puno,&quot; he said.</p><p>(Where are its parallel roads? It&#x27;s situated in a gated military camp, gated communities that&#x27;s why the road is choked with traffic.)</p><p>Palafox said they had also previoulsy proposed of charging vehicles plying EDSA during rush hour to dissuade motorists from driving.</p><p>Records from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) showed that more than 400,000 vehicles ply EDSA daily.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QJGw-xwHVDM?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>An urban planning expert on Thursday called on the government to make Metro Manila's streets more inviting for pedestrians and cyclists amid the COVID-19 pandemic as part of "tactical urbanism" to the capital region's perennial traffic problem.<br /> </p>

An urban planning expert on Thursday called on the government to make Metro Manila's streets more inviting for pedestrians and cyclists amid the COVID-19 pandemic as part of "tactical urbanism" to the capital region's perennial traffic problem.