AS a result of the night market in the Cogon Public Market area, vehicular and pedestrian traffic has visibly and considerably improved. Far from being almost perfect though.
Prior to the installation of the night market, we need not be reminded that both vehicular and pedestrian traffic along JR Borja street, Yacapin street, and Vicente Roa street has been so irritating that motorists may be, just maybe, justified to blow their top.
Today, the picture is quite different in that without the vendors on sidestreets motor vehicles freely ply those streets.
One thing, though. The pedestrians that cross JR Borja street right in front of the public market do so with wanton disregard for orderliness. Observably, they cross almost one at a time hence motor vehicles needlessly stop to give way to their unsynchronized crossing.
If this gets addressed on a daily basis, the Cogon market area could become a motorists’ haven. And it's not difficult to do.
There are RTA traffic aides around the Cogon market. Since the number of sidewalk or street vendors has dramatically dwindled and later reduced to nil, those traffic aides could focus their attention and energy on helping the pedestrians cross streets by batch, for, after all, their tasks have obviously become lighter.
As I have mentioned in an earlier article, motorists are among the four “beneficiaries” of the night market. And this may be achieved only if all involved city government offices remember and perform, and do justice to, their core mandates.
Manning and managing vehicular traffic is admittedly a tall order. It’s practically a damned if you and damned if you don't situation. While policies and directions are clear, the challenge lies on road.
What is needed therefore are people who make the job, not people who are made by the job.
