In our recent village newsletter, I have come to learn about the association's efforts to solicit the City Hall's assistance in redeveloping BF Homes’s (in Quezon City) Central Park. In that article, it was not clear what and how the redevelopm ent would be.
What I hope though is that residents would be given the option to get involved directly, and not only through representation through the village's elected board. A charrette, not just a public hearing is needed. In public hearings, one doubts whether, after hearing the people's opinions, these opinions would even be tested & put on the drawing board.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
Sidewalks Again
After having been on an extended vacation these past couple of months, I decided to take a walk along Holy Spirit Drive from Commonwealth Ave. to BF Homes QC gate. After just a few blocks, my thoughts on my last blog came to mind – the sidewalk project supposedly initiated by the local government along the whole stretch of Holy Spirit Drive.
Now that the project seems to be complete, I am frustrated at the outcome that I have anticipated all along. I have come to experience first hand the utter disregard for the pedestrians right of way and safety. And it is largely due to OBSTRUCTIONS! Did anybody study, plan or design this project.
The road pavement was widened by approximately 1 meter on both sides, the purpose of which is not clear considering that the road is already 2 lanes each way. I can only surmise that this width would probably be alotted for parallel parking that the local government can charge for (and thereby make an income out of).
With the road pavement widening, the sidewalk and planting strip was reduced by also 1 meter on each side of the road. This pushed the sidewalk in line with the existing row of large trees (that used to be in a planting strip). I cannot appreciate how this could be in line with the picture shown in the project’s big billboard showing a clear and wide sidewalk.
Anybody who has travelled and done a lot of walking would appreciate the pathwalks particularly the sidewalks constructed in most other countries. They are consistently wide, continuous, level and clear of obstructions.
In the case of Holy Spirit Drive, the pedestrians are being pushed to tread on the road to avoid the trees. Had the road not been unecessarily widened and the sidewalk width been maintained, the levels (lines and grades) been made continuous, and cleared of other obstructions like lamposts, cars and vendors, I am sure more local people would find walking a much more enjoyable experience than bringing their cars or taking public transport.
Since it says on the billboard that this project is only Package 1, I can only hope that there is a Package 2 to restore some of the missing stretches of the sidewalk. In the meantime, pedestrians may have to play dodge with vehicles (and risk neck and limb) as they try to give way to trees.
Now that the project seems to be complete, I am frustrated at the outcome that I have anticipated all along. I have come to experience first hand the utter disregard for the pedestrians right of way and safety. And it is largely due to OBSTRUCTIONS! Did anybody study, plan or design this project.
The road pavement was widened by approximately 1 meter on both sides, the purpose of which is not clear considering that the road is already 2 lanes each way. I can only surmise that this width would probably be alotted for parallel parking that the local government can charge for (and thereby make an income out of).
With the road pavement widening, the sidewalk and planting strip was reduced by also 1 meter on each side of the road. This pushed the sidewalk in line with the existing row of large trees (that used to be in a planting strip). I cannot appreciate how this could be in line with the picture shown in the project’s big billboard showing a clear and wide sidewalk.
Anybody who has travelled and done a lot of walking would appreciate the pathwalks particularly the sidewalks constructed in most other countries. They are consistently wide, continuous, level and clear of obstructions.
In the case of Holy Spirit Drive, the pedestrians are being pushed to tread on the road to avoid the trees. Had the road not been unecessarily widened and the sidewalk width been maintained, the levels (lines and grades) been made continuous, and cleared of other obstructions like lamposts, cars and vendors, I am sure more local people would find walking a much more enjoyable experience than bringing their cars or taking public transport.
Since it says on the billboard that this project is only Package 1, I can only hope that there is a Package 2 to restore some of the missing stretches of the sidewalk. In the meantime, pedestrians may have to play dodge with vehicles (and risk neck and limb) as they try to give way to trees.
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