THE NEW tricycle route which prohibits tricycles from traversing Katipunan Avenue has reportedly been of detriment to both tricycle drivers and students.

The new tricycle route became effective on May 18, following a memorandum issued by the Quezon City Local Government’s Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS) on April 20.

According to the DPOS memorandum, “the new tricycle traffic scheme prohibits tricycles to ply/traverse the southbound and northbound lane of Katipunan Avenue from F. Dela Rosa St., and Gate 3 of Ateneo, going to Aurora Blvd.”

Tricycle drivers were advised “to use B. Gonzales, F. Dela Rosa St., and E Abada St. going to Alvero St. and Xavierville avenue corner Katipunan Avenue.”

Despite the memorandum, tricycle drivers Ace Agripa and Rex (no surname given) acknowledged that many tricycle drivers still traverse Katipunan Avenue.

“Ako sinusunod ko yong ruta pero yong iba hindi sumusunod (I follow the new route but others don’t),” Rex said.d Dean of F approximately 37.5% k and spell out the SEC. ollow The GUIDON writing style, we’ you to fix a couple of things in yo

Agripa himself acknowledged that he still passes by Katipunan Avenue, saying “puwede pa rin naman [ngayon]. Wala namang sinasabi sa aming bawal (It’s still allowed. No one has been telling us otherwise).”

Agripa is from the Tricycle Operators and Drivers’ Association (TODA) of Loyola Heights while Rex is from the TODA of Loyola-Pansol.

Students’ and drivers’ sentiments

The new route was not received positively by drivers from both TODA-Loyola Heights and TODA-Loyola-Pansol.

Agripa said that because of the new route, “bawas talaga ang aming kita (our income has significantly dropped).”

He explained that because the new route has restricted their destinations, students ride tricycles less often and prefer to walk instead.

Moreover, Agripa claimed that the new route was implemented due to complaints addressed to TODA from private vehicle owners that tricycle operations were aggravating heavy traffic along Katipunan Avenue.

Rex shared Agripa’s sentiments, saying that “mahirap talaga iyong walang [Katipunan] highway. Kung puwede lang, sana maibalik (It’s really difficult without the [Katipunan] highway. If only it could be brought back).”

Students were not in favor of the new route either. Management junior Carrie Nakpil said that her fare is “no longer worth it” given the restricted destinations.

Moreover, Richard Antonio (BS ES ’10), who is pursuing his master’s degree program, finds travel time with the new route “excruciatingly longer than usual” and has resorted to walking instead.

Long-run impact

Ateneo Campus Safety and Mobility Office (CSMO) Assistant Director Josephy Almosera said that the new route was a “win-win solution” for both students and tricycle drivers, despite negative sentiments from both parties.

The CSMO is the university’s administrative office that serves to develop programs aimed at campus safety.

“[The new route aims] to ensure safety of riders and drivers in compliance with the law and at same time allows tricycle operators to continue to serve the riding public,” Almosera said.

He also attributed the recent decline in tricycle operations to “low demand” of passengers during the Intersession and not due to the implementation of the new route.

Almosera said that the effect of the new route can be evaluated only once regular classes start.

Moreover, he does not believe that the new tricycle route will affect aggregate traffic level within the campus.

Re-assessing the fare matrix

Almosera acknowledged that the new route may lead to an increase in standard fares since tricycle drivers are forced to take longer routes.

He said that the CSMO is currently scheduling a meeting with TODA to review the current fare matrix.

The current tricycle fare matrix is as follows: From and to places within the Ateneo campus at Php 18, Katipunan Avenue to Ateneo (and vice-versa) at Php 25, Ateneo to Pansol at Php 35, Ateneo to Xavierville Phase 1 and 2 at Php 30, Ateneo to Xavierville Phase 3 at Php 35 and Ateneo to Evangelista at Php 35.

The most recent proposal for a revised fare matrix was passed last November 27, 2014 by the CSMO and Sanggunian Committee on Administrative Services (CAS) to address multiple reports of overpricing by drivers.

The CAS aims to address student concerns regarding transportation, traffic and basic university services.

CAS Head Franco Quilatan said that the Sanggunian “understands that prices will have to adjust.”

In light of the possible increase in fares, Quilatan said that the CAS is coordinating with the CSMO and TODA “to come at a resolution to make transportation safer and more convenient for students.”

He stressed that “the welfare of the students will still be prioritized,” citing the importance of tricycle transportation to dormitory residents and student commuters.

Quilatan also mentioned that the Sanggunian acknowledges how the new route and revised matrix will affect tricycle drivers.

“We have to take into account the livelihood of the [tricycle] operators as well as the [welfare of the] students,” he added.