IN mega cities such as Hongkong, Singapore, Japan, or even South Korea, anybody can go places on foot, especially tourists when they are going on a shopping spree, or simply strolling along and exploring the new places they are visiting.
As a tourist, one long stretch of a main road in most of these cities can be explored through walking, and you can get lost for a few minutes – even hours – without any need for hitching a ride. Yet once you need one, they are readily available at all times – very comfortable and inexpensive, too.
In Manila, traveling around the city would require constantly catching a ride. For instance, a Mandaluyong resident without a car would have to call a taxi or a motorcycle taxi to get to his place of employment in a nearby Rockwell in Makati. Imagine there is simply a bridge between the two locations.
The lack of an adequate mass transit system continues to be the principal issue plaguing Metro Manila’s lower classes.
Many people are willing to walk a mile every day to get to their place of employment. Consider those who arrive at the recently built bus stop at the intersection of EDSA and Makati Avenue. Even though their workplaces are located at Makati Medical Center, which is a distance of several kilometers, the majority of them no longer ride to get there. This is due to the accessible elevated walkway that is covered.
Let’s return to the main concern, which is the mass transit system. Slowly but surely, new bus lines have been established, and older jeepneys have been replaced with more modern, larger vehicles.
It’s fantastic that motorbike taxis have already begun to appear. Even though it is still in its early stages, Metro Manila commuters who were grumbling about their unpleasant experiences with the LRT, MRT, and yes, those cabs have embraced this new mode of transportation.
Grab, JoyRide, and Move It are the most recent to jump on board. It’s encouraging to see that certain private companies are prepared to make large investments in order to help Metro Manila’s unfortunate commuters.
We know that “Move It,” which Grab acquired, is releasing a new, cutting-edge technology in their updated smartphone app so commuters who wish to use their services may do so effortlessly and safely around-the-clock. According to Move It, the in-app VOIP calling capability offers privacy and convenience while doing away with the need for outside messaging services. With the help of its brand-new Share-My-Ride tool, users can also quickly and conveniently share ride information with loved ones, ensuring continual updates on their whereabouts while riding. The integration of GrabMaps and Navigation, a sophisticated online mapping system driven by Grab’s huge data, with Move It, however, should be commended as it will guarantee accurate pinning for pick-up and drop-off locations.
But many more must be done to improve the situation of our daily commuters. In order to prioritize the construction of a mass transit system, the terrible traffic must be alleviated as quickly as possible, and additional roads and bridges within the city must be given priority.