I got a car, knowing that Manila traffic was only going to get worse.

Norm
Norm
Nov 5 · 2 min read
Typical view of Manila traffic. Photo from @thenormantan on Instagram.

According to Waze, Metro Manila has the worst traffic in the world. There are many contributing factors, with some saying that the large number of vehicles on the road is the top cause of traffic. But in spite of the worsening traffic, new cars are hitting the road every month.

More cars leads to more traffic, leading to more cars, and so on. People keep getting cars despite the traffic getting worse. Why? Here’s my take:

Public transportation is no longer a reliable way to get from point A to point B safe, and on-time. Trains break down. Taxis turn down trips. Jeepneys and buses are always full, and don’t have a schedule. At times, one might find oneself pushing others away just to get a place on the bus. Almost always, there’s the waiting. Waiting in line, then waiting in traffic. More options are available now, but they’re more stopgaps than actual solutions.

That’s the situation. To adapt, those who can are cutting down on the amount of commuting they do. Some relocated their homes to move closer to work. Some might have changed jobs to bring work closer to home. Some are lucky to be able to work from home. Others (myself included) got a car or a motorcycle, though doing so contributes to the worsening traffic.

But the worsening traffic wasn’t on my mind. I got a car, because I couldn’t endure the commuting experience anymore. All the lines, the hours of waiting. Trying to get a cab when none want to take you. The feeling of tiredness just as you get to the office. Perhaps this applies to a lot of people as well. People who have been enduring the commuting conditions of Manila, and have decided that they’re going to do something about it.

Additional infrastructure is still being built to serve the needs of Metro Manila.

It might take years for all the construction to finish — for the new roads, bridges, and highways to be complete. By then, we might need even more roads and bridges to accommodate all the new vehicles coming out today.

Norm

Written by

Norm

Caffeine enthusiast, fan of food. Tragically lactose intolerant.

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