Dumaguete Info Search


The System Works

Discussion in '☋ Dumaguete City ☋' started by PatO, Nov 29, 2010.

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  1. PatO

    PatO DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer Veteran Marines

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    Instead of complaining about the traffic, let us have a look at the system, it works for the people! We are living on a remote Island where there is not a lot of government funds coming here and not a lot of businesses here to create a large tax base, so the infrastructure is what it is and the city has done what it can do to work within its limitations. Anyone really complaining about the traffic has lived a very sheltered life or forget about real traffic in every major city in the world. The traffic here flows and moves; unlike grid lock elsewhere.
    Sure, there are a ton of pedicabs and bikes but I'm sure if you walk down every barangay road in the morning you will see a need for school children to get to school, workers to work, and church-goers to church, etc. They need affordable transportation. It is what it is.
    Real issues that are continually voiced on this forum are regarding the lack of people driving sensibility. I have no idea what the rules are and I would be 90+% of the population don't either. Manzanita sent a good message regarding this recently stating you are responsible for your front bumper. Now that makes sense, even though we have to drive defensively to avoid being responsible for a collision because locals not following any standard.
     
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  2. patty

    patty DI Forum Adept Showcase Reviewer

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    I agree with PatO, it works and seems to have very few accidents. More street lights would be nice for night driving to aviod all the people walking. Motorcycles are the worst for not having mirrors and pull out of streets without looking and pass on right and left. Be aware of a 360 view and allow extra time for your journey, parades are endless and detours. We always have an ice chest in the car for takeout and grocery shopping. Learn to adapt here, after all it is like the twilight zone from the 50's. Drive with a smile, there is no road rage here and do not text or talk on the cell phone while driving. Happy day!
     
  3. Jack Peterson

    Jack Peterson DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster SC Connoisseur Veteran Air Force

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    Well Pat & Patty, I agree with both of you, unfortunately there seems to be no obvious alternatives, I guess that it will remain like it is for the rest of the first half of this Century at least. I will add however, that I don't hear many locals complaining about it much. Maybe it is just us foreigners, that can't come to terms with it. As an Addition, Azon and I sat on the bench in a Shed at the end of our yard Friday, we Counted 37 trikes in a 10 min Period pass us. All were full of Children, Shop Girls and well, people obviously going to work or school as Pat has said. As there is no alternative, I guess the Trikes have a place with us, like them or not. If those using trikes could afford a Car or bike (and old enough of course to drive) we may end up with even more traffic.

    Just my 5 cents.

    Jack P.
     
  4. Union Jack

    Union Jack DI Forum Adept

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    I personally love tricycles and used them regularly when in town. They take me from A to B in no time, they are cheap, no need of aircon and you get to mingle with the locals....what could anyone want more? I remember once when the driver run out of petrol and I helped to push the trike by the side of the road so that he could get his molotov out and fill the tank.....
     
  5. hsemitara

    hsemitara DI Member

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    worst in manila and cebu gotta worry about them taxis
     
  6. flobenz

    flobenz DI Member

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    I am a local and I am complaining... :D mainly because the volume of vehicles in the city has really increased compared to last year or the year before that, and being here almost all of my life, I can clearly see the difference. I'm sure that number will continue to rise, and if the city doesn't do anything soon, it's going to get out of hand. Dumaguete will turn into something like Cebu or Manila, and it will lose its allure.

    I've noticed that turning more streets one-way makes a difference. I can see that scheme working well in Hibbard Avenue. Personally, I'd rather drive a long way than get stuck in traffic somewhere. But yeah. Unless someone who's got power in the local government is reading this forum, I doubt anything will come out of our discussions. :(
     
  7. OP
    OP
    PatO

    PatO DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer Veteran Marines

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    Progress

    Flobenz, I think what you are seeing and locals are experiencing is typical progress. As Dgte brings in more business like call centers and Robinson's mall and businesses around there it does two things. It creates jobs for the people and it generates a tax base for the city. This results in people having more funds to buy cars and bikes; hence, more traffic. Many of us have worked around the world and lived in cities with extreme traffic. Trust me, Dgte traffic is minimal in comparison.
    My wife is from Santa Catalina. There is no traffic there but no businesses either so people have to come here for Cebu or Manila for work. I imagine most locals fortunate to have a job in Dgte would rather work here than have to go elsewhere for work.
    I am not trying to lecture, merely pointing out that Dumaguete is not bad in comparison to other cities, IMHO.
     
  8. jj83

    jj83 DI Junior Member

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    Interesting video on what happens in a U.K. city when they turn the traffic lights off.
    Video
     
  9. flobenz

    flobenz DI Member

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    Yup, am well aware about Dumaguete's progress, and that's precisely what I'm worried about. With the way the city is progressing, traffic management has to be improved soon, because what worked in the past will no longer work in the future. And just because things are not as bad in comparison to other cities (yet) doesn't mean we should settle. It would be easier for me to accept the "progress argument" if the city was doing its best in terms of regulating traffic, but it's not. I do agree that the infrastructure is what it is, but I don't agree that city has done what it can do to work within its limitations. I mean, how difficult would it be to strictly enforce traffic regulations? Let's even forget about helmets and just focus on jaywalking, parking, or stopping in the middle of the road. I know I live in the Philippines and the government will probably not be able to give me what I want, but that doesn't mean I should stop asking. :p
     
  10. Jack Peterson

    Jack Peterson DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster SC Connoisseur Veteran Air Force

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    Park and Walk!

    :eek: Park and Ride may be the answer, It seems to Work in other Worlds Cities, or this to easy an answer. Wake me up when it is voting time, Me I still enjoy Walking and lets face it, you can be from National Book Store to the Bethel in 10 mins which ever way you go, Maybe Walking is a misunderstood word here. Do we Actually NEED the car, van, SUV, 4x4 in the City. (a lot of times with only 1 or maybe 2 people in it.) just a thought. A few 20 seater People carriers to and from a coach park could relieve something like 50 cars and vans out of the city per hour or so. Maybe more who knows. I am still convinced that pedestrianising will be an answer during Shop open times.



    Jack P.
     
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