THE PROBLEM is not the vehicles, it is the pedestrians’ devil-may-care behavior.
There is no pedestrian lane at the busy corner of España Boulevard and Blumentritt Street. Still, pedestrians would rather cross the street there instead of using the elevated walkway or pedestrian overpass. Although vehicles slow down when there are pedestrians crossing the street, it would still be much safer for pedestrians to take the elevated walkway. I guess this is not only true at corner España Boulevard-Blumentritt Street; this is true in all other places where there are elevated walkways.
I suggest that a law or local ordinance should be passed prohibiting pedestrian crossing except through elevated walkways or pedestrian overpasses or marked crosswalks, especially where one of such facilities is available.
By simply following simple pedestrian rules, we partially solve our traffic problem, reduce the number of vehicular accidents and avoid causing others, or being a victim of, serious physical injuries.
—REGINALD B. TAMAYO, assistant city council secretary, Marikina City, reginaldtamayo@yahoo.com