Small roads
Pasig has given RC enthusiasts a course of their own. Watching the small vehicles move around it also shows how much patience driving can require.
ILLUSTRATION BY GLENZKIE TOLO
Daily TribunePasig has given RC enthusiasts a course of their own. Watching the small vehicles move around it also shows how much patience driving can require.
ILLUSTRATION BY GLENZKIE TOLO
Pasig City opened an RC Park at Maybunga Rainforest Park on 5 July during the Araw ng Pasig celebration. The course was built for remote-controlled crawlers that move over rough ground instead of racing around a smooth track.
It has uneven trails, slopes and a water section. Small road signs and traffic cones have also been placed along the route.
It may look like a playground for toy cars, although owners may disagree with that description.
Many RC crawlers are detailed versions of familiar sport utility vehicles and off-roaders. Some also cost much more than people expect from something that size.
What I find interesting is that owners can change the tires or adjust the suspension to improve how these small vehicles handle rough ground, much like their full-sized counterparts.
The driver controls the crawler from outside the course and has a clear view of the ground ahead. He must decide how to approach an obstacle before pressing the throttle.
On the course, the driver cannot move forward until there is enough room. Forcing the crawler through only leaves it stuck.
Drivers on public roads are not always as patient.
Some motorists enter an intersection even when the lane ahead is already full. The light changes and everyone else is blocked.
I find the comparison amusing because the smaller vehicle is often driven with more care.
The park may not have been built to correct bad road behavior. It gives RC enthusiasts a place to use their vehicles and meet others who enjoy the same hobby.
Many enthusiasts usually have to look for open ground where they can drive. The new course gives them an area designed for the activity without getting in the way of other park users.
The small road signs and traffic cones may also catch the attention of children. They can see why a vehicle needs room to turn and why slowing down helps on rough ground.
That alone will not make them better drivers someday. Most children learn more about road behavior while riding with adults.
They notice when a driver gives way. They also notice when the same person complains about another motorist and does something similar a few minutes later.
The RC course is simpler. The driver can stop before an obstacle and wait until the path is clear. A mistake can be corrected without horns sounding from behind.
Pasig has given RC enthusiasts a course of their own. Watching the small vehicles move around it also shows how much patience driving can require.