Give the bus a break

One of the things I envy while driving along EDSA is watching buses pass long lines of cars in their dedicated lane. Their passengers get to keep moving while the rest of us crawl through traffic.

The Department of Transportation now wants to introduce similar busways along C-5, Quezon Avenue and Ortigas-Aurora Boulevard, three major roads where commuters and motorists spend considerable time sitting in traffic.

Transportation Undersecretary Mark Steven Pastor announced the proposals on 8 October during a forum organized by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.

The C-5 corridor would cover 45.6 kilometers with 88 bus stops, while Quezon Avenue would have 62 stops along 26.24 kilometers. Another 65 stops are proposed for the 30.5-kilometer Ortigas-Aurora route.

Having dedicated bus lanes on these roads sounds promising, particularly when we consider what the EDSA Busway has accomplished since it began operating in 2020.

Last year, the system carried nearly 66.7 million passengers, up from 63 million in 2024. That works out to an average of about 183,000 passenger trips daily, with buses able to avoid much of the congestion affecting private vehicles.

Those buses may pass traffic quickly, but passengers still have to reach the stations, many of which sit in the middle of EDSA.

In June last year, DAILY TRIBUNE documented commuters crowding the Main Avenue station, where a narrow staircase served as the only access point for passengers heading in both directions.

The old Kamuning footbridge, nicknamed Mt. Kamuning because of its steep, 154-step climb, was finally retired in March this year when a lower pedestrian bridge opened with elevators and wheelchair lifts.

The new busways would have to address passenger access while working around the existing road layouts.

C-5 has numerous flyovers and busy intersections, with vehicles entering and exiting roads leading to residential and commercial areas. The proposed busway would have to accommodate turning vehicles without disrupting bus traffic.

There is an understandable concern among motorists about losing another traffic lane, especially along C-5, where congestion already extends through several major intersections during rush hour.

Taking away a lane may worsen traffic, but a bus can carry far more people than the cars that would otherwise occupy the same road space.

Some motorists still need their cars for school runs or errands across the city. Those making the same trip to work every day may find the bus cheaper, particularly when fuel and parking expenses are added up.

I’d gladly leave my car at home if I could board a bus without a long detour and get off near my destination.

After all, I’ve spent enough time on EDSA watching buses overtake me. It would be nice to be sitting in one of them for a change.