Walkable cities

CEBU CITY — One of the defining characteristics of most Philippine cities today is that they’re not walkable; it’s at worst dangerous, and at best inconvenient, to go around them on foot.

Oftentimes, there’s hardly any sidewalk, so one would have to actually walk on the road itself — a risky proposition in light of the many motorbikes that will try to slip their way through the usual heavy traffic. Even when there’s a “sidewalk,” it’s usually narrow, and oftentimes occupied by (illegally parked) vehicles, vendors, tree trunks and electric posts.

Meanwhile, crosswalks are often not respected; vehicle drivers wheeze past them in utter disregard of the people. The underlying mindset here is that when it comes to the road, the priority are the vehicles, not the pedestrians.

Sure, there are exceptions, like Iloilo’s esplanades and Metro Manila’s business districts, but they are few and far between. Here in Cebu, the I.T. Park in Lahug has dedicated, tree-shaded sidewalks, but unless you work or live there, you are unlikely to benefit much from them. And once you leave the I.T. Park, walking again becomes problematic.

The lack of walkability in our cities and towns is unfortunate, given its many potential benefits.

First of all, it can help reduce traffic. Distance-wise, many routes people take are actually walkable, but people still insist on taking motorized transport. Think of all the students going to Ateneo, Miriam and UP from nearby dorms: If they were willing to walk, there would be far less traffic on Katipunan Avenue.

Second, it is good for health; studies show that just 30 minutes of walking every day can help lower the risk of heart disease by up to 40 percent. Walking can also help in weight management, musculoskeletal fitness and mental health.

Third, it’s good for the economy: If people can easily walk around town, they end up spending more and patronizing various shops along the way. Walking as a free form of transport can also generate savings not just for individuals, but also for governments who would otherwise have to spend more resources on transport management.

Walkability can also help foster a sense of community. Simply put, it’s easier to care for people you encounter on the streets than for those you barely see behind your car’s tinted windows. Needless to say, walkability is also great for the environment.

One argument against walkability is that it’s “too hot” in the country to walk; Filipinos hate sweating en route to work. But that’s only true because we do not have ideal walkways: Walking amid the heat of vehicles’ running engines is very different from walking under the shade of trees. The fact that Singapore and even Bangkok are much more walkable than Manila means that our tropical climate is no barrier to walkability.

Another argument against walkability is the pollution. But, again, this too can be mitigated by the quality of the walkways. Moreover, if walkability can reduce motor traffic, then it can actually reduce pollution.

Given the benefits of walkability, what can we do to make people more open to the idea of walking, and for the environment to be more conducive for it? Where do we begin?

One place to start is in areas where there is likely to be significant uptake — for instance, Katipunan. Can we not make covered footpaths from UP Diliman to the LRT station via UP Town Center, Miriam College and Ateneo? Or pedestrian trails all over Baguio, where the cool climate and mounting traffic make for a strong rationale for them?

Provincial cities and towns are also potential sites for intervention, having far more space to add sidewalks (and public parks) in their urban planning. But while there are far more challenges in urban centers like Manila and Cebu, they too can be made more walkable given sufficient political will and multisectoral investment.

Of course, we cannot get people to walk unless we guarantee safety and security, convenience and comfort, as well as inclusive access (e.g., for PWDs and the elderly). There are many roadblocks, but the case for overcoming them is clear: If we are to improve the quality of life in our cities, then we should make them walkable.

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