One reason why electric bikes and tri-wheelers don't currently sell well in the Philippines is because of their inability to access the chaotic urban main roads where four-wheelers crawl by and often get gridlocked within street crossings. Negotiating such urban chaos can be downright deadly if bikes and trikes are used, for battles for 'place' endlessly occur among four-wheel drivers trying to reduce travel time along main streets and avenues. Riders of the 'slow and tiny' 2-3 wheelers are also forbidden by law to access main roads because of the obvious hazards posed by such adventures.
The logical solution for urban Philippines? Build elevated streets above main avenues and appropriate side streets that are dedicated to pedestrians, bi-wheelers and tri-wheelers. The 2nd level street networks should lead to business centers and commercial or residential areas initially within all 16 cities of the overpopulated Philippine national capital region.
Elevated streets atop wide avenues may partly serve as parking areas for light vehicles, with strategically placed ramps installed for entry and egress. On idle State-owned lots and sections of large gardens, multi-level steel-frame parking with car elevators have to be installed for rental purposes. Such parking facilities will greatly help in de-clogging urban streets of parked vehicles, which often stay for hours and even overnight, especially since some 80% of Philippine urban vehicle owners have no home garages. The current paucity of parking spaces further causes heavy traffic 'stand-downs' when four-wheeled vehicles trapped in unmoving main road traffic try to escape to side streets 'infested' with parked vehicles.
How may our Mega Co-op Movement build the elevated streets? Scores of mega co-ops may partner with scores of 1st World CSR companies to simultaneously build elevated streets and river bridges in urban Philippines. Low interest loans provided by world Climate Change Funds and State Aid agencies may pay for 75% of project cost, for the sake of CO2 reduction. Simultaneous construction of the elevated streets by scores of mega co-op joint venture companies will create 'instant' networks of elevated roadways plus bridges spanning rivers region-wide within a year or two.
To earn out of the projects, the joint ventures may charge user entry fees and parking fees thru an electronic card charging system. The joint ventures may likewise arrange with owners of buildings along both sides of the elevated streets for construction of entry platforms with bike and tri-wheeler parking in order to entice travelers into the restaurants, stores and service shops within the said buildings. The building owners have to pay monthly 'platform fees' to help defray elevated street maintenance costs, to help recover joint venture capital, and pay for loans and profit dividends. The state may earn out of rising tax payments as well as other taxes, permits and licenses incident to construction and operation of the elevated road networks.
The system should create a new urban commercial area culture: ground level streets formerly teeming with sidewalk vendors that force crowds of pedestrians and buyers to occupy large portions of roads where buses and jeeps wait for passengers, resulting to chaos and accidents, all clear up as all the people transfer themselves to the elevated streets where safety and 'breathing space' are standard features. Elevated parks in front of churches, markets and garden-style ground-level parks should likewise be built to connect to the elevated roads, thus provide more 'breathing space' for the public. By building small stalls for rent on some areas of the parks, the current endless cat and mouse battles between illegal street hawkers and authorities will at last end. Vendor stalls that currently occupy half or even entire commercial area streets will transfer to certain areas of the elevated parks, a boon to ground streets' vehicle drivers.
All elevated streets must be provided with arched roofs versus sun and rain. Atop the roofs should be installed pergolas festooned with flowery vines. Between pergola sections, solar panels must be installed to power bright LED lights at night. The flowery vines will help absorb CO2 while providing freshness and beauty to the environment. Sufficient spaces between the elevated streets and side buildings should enable fire trucks to use hoses and water cannons for firefighting. Charging stations with recharged battery replacement services for electric bikes and trikes should be operated by the joint ventures. The outer walls of elevated streets should be provided with covered 'wireways' to finally remove the current unsightly electric posts and tangled power and communication wires so common in Philippine urban streets. Well-maintained pay restrooms have to be built in strategic areas of elevated street intersections and plazas, something that is a current rarity in Philippine city grounds.
How will these schemes impact climate change? When 90% of city commuters become bike and electric bike and trike users, public transport passengers will severely dry up. Soot-exuding and CO2 emitting buses and jeeps will have to transfer most of their fleets to the provinces where they are badly needed. They should convert to ethanol-fueled (E85) engines to help curb pollution while bringing down their fuel costs by half or less. Vehicle operators and builders should join mega co-ops in forming joint ventures with 1st World CSR companies to manufacture E85-fueled vehicles. The resultant greatly reduced urban ground-level traffic will prevent further engine emissions of greenhouse gases that currently approach million-ton levels each year in the Philippines alone. Copycats in other countries with heavy traffic problems should ramp up CO2 sequestration to billion-ton levels.
The logical solution for urban Philippines? Build elevated streets above main avenues and appropriate side streets that are dedicated to pedestrians, bi-wheelers and tri-wheelers. The 2nd level street networks should lead to business centers and commercial or residential areas initially within all 16 cities of the overpopulated Philippine national capital region.
Elevated streets atop wide avenues may partly serve as parking areas for light vehicles, with strategically placed ramps installed for entry and egress. On idle State-owned lots and sections of large gardens, multi-level steel-frame parking with car elevators have to be installed for rental purposes. Such parking facilities will greatly help in de-clogging urban streets of parked vehicles, which often stay for hours and even overnight, especially since some 80% of Philippine urban vehicle owners have no home garages. The current paucity of parking spaces further causes heavy traffic 'stand-downs' when four-wheeled vehicles trapped in unmoving main road traffic try to escape to side streets 'infested' with parked vehicles.
How may our Mega Co-op Movement build the elevated streets? Scores of mega co-ops may partner with scores of 1st World CSR companies to simultaneously build elevated streets and river bridges in urban Philippines. Low interest loans provided by world Climate Change Funds and State Aid agencies may pay for 75% of project cost, for the sake of CO2 reduction. Simultaneous construction of the elevated streets by scores of mega co-op joint venture companies will create 'instant' networks of elevated roadways plus bridges spanning rivers region-wide within a year or two.
To earn out of the projects, the joint ventures may charge user entry fees and parking fees thru an electronic card charging system. The joint ventures may likewise arrange with owners of buildings along both sides of the elevated streets for construction of entry platforms with bike and tri-wheeler parking in order to entice travelers into the restaurants, stores and service shops within the said buildings. The building owners have to pay monthly 'platform fees' to help defray elevated street maintenance costs, to help recover joint venture capital, and pay for loans and profit dividends. The state may earn out of rising tax payments as well as other taxes, permits and licenses incident to construction and operation of the elevated road networks.
The system should create a new urban commercial area culture: ground level streets formerly teeming with sidewalk vendors that force crowds of pedestrians and buyers to occupy large portions of roads where buses and jeeps wait for passengers, resulting to chaos and accidents, all clear up as all the people transfer themselves to the elevated streets where safety and 'breathing space' are standard features. Elevated parks in front of churches, markets and garden-style ground-level parks should likewise be built to connect to the elevated roads, thus provide more 'breathing space' for the public. By building small stalls for rent on some areas of the parks, the current endless cat and mouse battles between illegal street hawkers and authorities will at last end. Vendor stalls that currently occupy half or even entire commercial area streets will transfer to certain areas of the elevated parks, a boon to ground streets' vehicle drivers.
All elevated streets must be provided with arched roofs versus sun and rain. Atop the roofs should be installed pergolas festooned with flowery vines. Between pergola sections, solar panels must be installed to power bright LED lights at night. The flowery vines will help absorb CO2 while providing freshness and beauty to the environment. Sufficient spaces between the elevated streets and side buildings should enable fire trucks to use hoses and water cannons for firefighting. Charging stations with recharged battery replacement services for electric bikes and trikes should be operated by the joint ventures. The outer walls of elevated streets should be provided with covered 'wireways' to finally remove the current unsightly electric posts and tangled power and communication wires so common in Philippine urban streets. Well-maintained pay restrooms have to be built in strategic areas of elevated street intersections and plazas, something that is a current rarity in Philippine city grounds.
How will these schemes impact climate change? When 90% of city commuters become bike and electric bike and trike users, public transport passengers will severely dry up. Soot-exuding and CO2 emitting buses and jeeps will have to transfer most of their fleets to the provinces where they are badly needed. They should convert to ethanol-fueled (E85) engines to help curb pollution while bringing down their fuel costs by half or less. Vehicle operators and builders should join mega co-ops in forming joint ventures with 1st World CSR companies to manufacture E85-fueled vehicles. The resultant greatly reduced urban ground-level traffic will prevent further engine emissions of greenhouse gases that currently approach million-ton levels each year in the Philippines alone. Copycats in other countries with heavy traffic problems should ramp up CO2 sequestration to billion-ton levels.
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