A drive past the flyover in Bacolod City’s Barangay Bata, situated between the Pepsi-Cola processing facility and the Ceres Northbound Terminal, is part of the daily routine. However, what has been apparent is the continued bizarre and disorderly patterns of local motorists (jeepney operators, in particular), despite a regular police presence at the intersection.

In any other circumstance, one would assume a police presence would make for more efficient and manageable operations – an assumed step-up from a city traffic enforcer. Yet, even with a police officer seemingly keeping an eye on the area, there is still massive anarchy and lawlessness.

Stopping traffic

For most, if not all situations, the traffic flow of a main roadway should not be halted. Portions of unobstructed roadway, areas free of intersections, should proceed without interruption. In the case of the road that runs parallel to the flyover, in the direction of Talisay City, traffic often comes to a standstill; not because of congestion but because the police officer on duty purposefully stopped traffic in order for jeepneys to execute U-turns.

Instead of the normal process, where drivers wait for enough space to successfully complete a U-turn, in Bacolod City, it appears to be standard operating procedure for authorities to stop traffic for the sake of jeepney operators. Since jeepney operators, with their entitled demeanor, refuse to wait like everybody else, coupled with law enforcement obliging to their wishes, other vehicles, either originating from Lacson Street or turning in from Circumferential Road, are stuck; and backing up to a point where cars are stopped and obstructing the intersection of the aforementioned streets – all for a couple jeepneys to make U-turns.

The reason why it appears to be standard operating procedure is because it has been witnessed at other junctures across the city. It would appear the entitled nature exuded by jeepney operators is aided by the preferential treatment they are apparently provided.

No loading/unloading

Directly in front of the chair set-up for the designated police officer is a large sign that reads “No Loading/Unloading,” a fairly straightforward message for jeepney operators, who have a penchant for picking up and dropping off passengers at any moment – even if it’s in the middle of the street. Regardless, on many occasions, jeepneys are stopped at that area underneath the flyover picking up and dropping off passengers; which results in passengers running across the street either trying to catch the jeepney or trying to catch a connection at the nearby bus terminal.

They are also often stopped with the rear of their vehicle jutting into the road.

What is the point of the sign? Why waste materials on something that is just being used as window dressing?

In addition, with a human being stationed at that specific point to manage the situation and ensure things are running efficiently, the violating jeepney operators are often greeted with a wave and smile – more evidence they are truly coddled.

Dangerous maneuvers

Beyond the artificial congestion created by traffic authorities, like many instances with jeepney operators, dangerous maneuvers on the road, such as blindly shifting lanes, making sudden stops, driving at erratic speeds, are all still tolerated along the roads that sit alongside flyovers.

The most recent encounter occurred last Friday.

Two jeepneys were operating side-by-side. The one in the left lane had their signal on indicating they planned on executing a left turn. As they began to turn, the jeepney on the right sped up and also executed a left turn by suddenly crossing the left lane, which nearly resulted in a head-on collision.

It seems a bit too basic to explain (but often too puzzling for local drivers): If a driver plans to execute a left turn, they must be in the left lane; accordingly, if a driver plans to execute a right turn, they must be in the right lane. It does not make any sense why so many drivers (not just jeepney operators) feel the need to do the exact opposite; and none of these vehicles are of tractor-trailer scale that they are too large to complete a turn from one lane.

In addition, this situation may also be a case of something brought in a previous column, where the idea of forming a line is considered a foreign concept.

While waiting in the designating turn lane, often times, other vehicles will sidle up in another lane, in an effort to make the turn first – this is not something one could have even dreamed up, let alone see it happen in real life. Why do these motorists feel they don’t have to wait like everybody else? What makes them more important than the next person? Where does this arrogance come from?

May have side this before but, personally, Bacolod City is the first time ever witnessing such maneuvers.

Going back to the near collision, tried getting the jeepney operator’s attention to make him aware of the accident he nearly caused and the only response was a cold shoulder from the driver and a glance from the on-duty police officer who appeared to be too engaged on his mobile phone.

The intersection at the flyover in Barangay Bata says is an example of about how roads are managed in the city. Despite “efforts” of putting up signage and the presence of law enforcement, people will still do whatever they want – especially jeepney operators. Turn whenever they want, stop whenever they want, even drive on the wrong side of the road, and it doesn’t matter if it interrupts traffic flow.

Plus, based on how things are done at the said intersection, it’s obvious jeepney operators have been granted (for whatever reason) the ability to make demands.

As much as the city touts the construction of flyovers as accomplishments, the resulting disarray on the roads along and around the structure isn’t anything to applaud./WDJ