Quiet ride

The trip this morning was uneventful. Slow and without incident.

Passengers in the FX I took were in their own world. In the rear seat of the AUV, one passenger was sleeping, another is chatting via SMS, and the only girl in our section is staring out the window.

It was a quiet ride.

Road courtesy

Getting into traffic near a fare-rich corner is different from getting in at any other part of the thoroughfare.

Passenger utility vehicles compete for fares all the time. They race to get to stops with lots of prospective passengers. They try to outmaneuver each other or cut off the other PUV to find a spot that will give them the most fare.

The trick to get your vehicle filled up with paying commuters is to be at a corner when the light is red "forcing" the driver to stop. That gives them an excuse to load passengers in a no loading area.

To achieve this, drivers tend to dilly-dally when they are approaching a corner with a stoplight. so they get stopped at the right moment -- at the corner where pedestrians abound.

Entering traffic near a corner full of prospective passengers will be to your advantage because PUV drivers will use stopping to let you pass as an excuse to miss the green light and get that coveted spot. :)

Traffic jam

On my way home this evening I witnessed a traffic jam that I could only used to imagine. I'm afraid I was unable to get a photo as the drivers and commuters may get offended. They are after all caught in a jam while in the middle of their excitement to get home.

But I did get a snap shot from Google Earth and drew some lines using GIMP image editor of my Linux OS on the place as what I have seen.

This jam is so tight the traffic enforcers may need to be creative enough to untangle it. And I can only ask you to imagine. Just imagine the line of vehicles on all lanes reaching back from about 200 meters to as long as a kilometer.

And everyone has only one thought in mind: to get home as soon as possible. And I mean everyone including those who caused the jam.

Expense or convenience

Just last week, the construction of the C-5 U-turn flyover has concluded. Now vehicles coming from Makati and Quezon City can use the flyover to get to Pasig or Pateros via Buting.



In the past, commuters and drivers alike need to go further to get to Buting after the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority implemented the no left turn rule in C-5. They will either turn right to Kalayaan and make a U-turn near Fort Bonifacio's Gate or drive ahead and around Market! Market! to be in Pateros. Some opted to use the new bridge in Sta. Rosa, Pasig.



This new u-turn flyover has come as a convenience to these travelers.

But just how many need this flyover? Will this prove to be the convenience people need or be just like the flyover in Meralco Avenue that crosses Julia Vargas where only a trickle of the daily rush hour travel fly through? We'll soon see.

Most unfortunate

This morning I arrived at the PUV terminal at around 8:20 hoping to get on board soon and be on my way to the before 9:00. But what greeted me is a very long line of fellow commuters waiting for their turn to get on board.

I was debating with myself if I will go and wait in line or if I should take another way to the office. I chose to wait in line.

By experience, if I take a jeepney to Pasig City, then take another FX to the office, it will probably take me more than an hour to get to the office.

I asked the dispatcher why the line grew longer than usual. He said that there is an on-going boat race along the Pasig River and most roads used by the drivers on their return trip is closed. the boat race is part of the celebrations for Araw ng Pasig.

I had no choice but to just wait. And it is past 9:00 already.

Waiting it out, I was able to get on board after 30 minutes and be in the office in another 15. What a way to start the month...

Best position

On my way to work today I just realized that in order to pick-up commuter chatter, one must be placed well in the middle of the group.

While riding shotgun with another passenger, I heard chatter from the rear of the vehicle that I cannot discern. Add to that the usual noise of morning traffic and the on-board audio and all I got is, chatter.

Well, I hope to put myself in a better location next time.