1.09.2008

it takes a pink line

Warning: Partly a rant.

This is a gem:

The MMDA will be painting pink lines on EDSA to keep cars from parking on the sidewalks. ("There are sidewalks on EDSA??? Where????")

"Under the scheme, three-inch wide pink lines shall separate the sidewalks from the roadways in an attempt to strictly enforce illegal parking laws."

Er, we need the pink lines to enforce parking laws? Don't we need enforcement to enforce parking laws?

Did they use pavlovian methods to train the MMDA traffic boys so they now only respond to pink?

And you've got to admire the MMDA's keen powers of observation:
"The project was conceived after MMDA officials observed that car owners who do not have their own garage often park their vehicles on sidewalks, blocking the way of pedestrians."

Wow. I had no idea.


< / sarcasm >
<>

  • One, widen the sidewalks. It should be at least 12 feet wide through the whole stretch of EDSA.

  • Two, limit the curb cuts - e.g., driveways and breaks in the curb, to no more than one every 200 feet. And driveways should be no wider than 10 to 12 feet. (Secondary roads should feature curb extensions and other traffic calming measures.)

  • Three, allow parallel parking on segments of EDSA and other major boulevards during off hours (say from 9pm to 6am). This gives vehicle owners a place to park at night -and if you used parking meters (or parking attendants), could be a good revenue source for local governments.

Of course these three suggestions are predicated on a commitment to make a city that is livable and pedestrian friendly.

And if we're going that way, why not redesign the streets completely? You can paint the tree grates pink if you really must have your signature color.




9 comments:

p said...

heya found you from whatsikat.com and i think that this sentence just about sums it all for me: "we need the pink lines to enforce parking laws? Don't we need enforcement to enforce parking laws?"

too many laws, not enough enforcement!!!

Urbano dela Cruz said...

P,

thanks for dropping by.

of course, I have a bias towards design. External enforcement is a failure of design.

UDC

Sidney said...

I am for pink roads all over the Philippines!

Urbano dela Cruz said...

Sidney,

because you like the color pink or because you want sidewalks for pedestrians?

UDC

Unknown said...

Pink color aside, it's been very effective here in ortigas where the sidewalks have delineated with yellow lines. I never even thought about it till they started appearing and realized that I was walking around cars parked on the sidewalk the whole time. Now it's quite clear and guess because it's easy to see who is parked on a sidewalk easier to catch. Effectively more walking space for pedestrians around Ortigas center.

Urbano dela Cruz said...

Peter,

I'm puzzled. I remember the Ortigas CBD had well defined sidewalks (and raised curbs).

Oh well, whatever works and the pedestrians get the right of way.

UDC

btw -how's Rex Drilon doing with the Ortigas CBD redev? Is it really becoming more pedestrian friendly?

Unknown said...

Certain parts have defined sidewalks and curbs. e.g. Emerald which Rex was boasting was actually wider than Ayala Ave. Other areas though allowed parking in the front of the building e.g. San Miguel ave buildings. Actually lowers the value of their properties. This area is one of those where cars parked on the sidewalks because the parking areas are sometimes too short and the building owners designed them to do this on purpose so as not to occupy their own property. With the new lines any car parked over these is towed away leaving space for pedestrians. There is still no sidewalk though for these places just a sloping once upon a time parking area.

I would think this exercise would work very well in many parts of the city.

Rex is a good start. At least he understands what sort of improvements create value in property. The little projects they've undertaken to improve walkability are evident with clearer pathways and controls.

One key problem for Ortigas though is that aside from the Ortigas Association being run by conservative owners who though they can understand and appreciate good planning can not dream or imagine too far, the Center actually has to deal with 3 separate cities so they have to coordinate with these separately e.g. One side of San Miguel Ave was newly paved (and now potholed) with Asphalt, while the other side has the same old cement road but better sidewalks.

I think one other key consideration that they have to do is to integrate the planning of the proposed Pioneer EDSA Shaw CBD expansion with Ortigas rather than treat it as a separate entity.

Urbano dela Cruz said...

Peter,

Thanks for clearing that up. I had forgotten about those buildings where the streetfronts were nothing but sloping parking space or driveways (I think banks are some of the worst culprits).

It would be great if we had rules for curb cuts. Even better if we required all parking to be behind the buildings. -but since we don't , I guess the pink line is the next best thing.

what bothers me is how adhoc it seems. And we know paint fades.

I used to get so incensed to see all the cars parked along the (what used to be) generous sidewalks of Taft Avenue.

Urbano dela Cruz said...

Peter, re: Rex

that's good to know. I knew him back when he was still running Cebu Properties for the Ayalas.

You bring up a good point about developers having to deal with 2 or more municipalities for CBDs.

short of more metrowide planning, I think one approach we can take is to identify centers and corridors that require close cooperation between the involved municipalities. - It might even help to have District Development Authorities with handle all physical plant and service coordination in the centers and corridors. They can also be paired up with Business Improvement Districts -basically commercial tenant associations with the authority to impose a small local tax that will go to maintenance, improvement and marketing. (that would work especially well in areas where there is no controlling developer).

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