We have been back and forth to work a few times now and traffic is definitely a factor getting around here. On Google Maps the trip from the Microtel to City Hall is 16Km and should take 21 minutes. I don't think we have beat 45 yet!
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| Yours truly in the back of the van "Ne pas porter la seatbelt" |
The traffic is soooooo different. The population density is different here and the streets for the most part don't have as much room. The variety of vehicles is very different with a lot more bikes and tricylces. Traffic lights are non existent and very few stop signs. If you are not aggressive you would never move and you have to take your openings and jump in to the fray. Crosswalks are everywhere but I fail to see how they differ from any other part of the street, you just cross whenever. In some ways better then in Halifax where as a driver you are supposed to anticipate someone crossing even if it is a mere gleam in their eye and come to a screeching halt!
We asked our teammates who are working in the Traffic area if there are many tickets given out and what would lead to a fine. They said the most common fines are for not wearing a helmet, driving in shorts and not stopping. Then we see 3 people go by on motorbikes with no helmets wearing shorts and rolling through an intersection! :-)
I am not going to say one methodology is better or worse but there seems to be very little in the way of accidents. You rarely get going to top speed and you have to constantly be both offensive and defensive at all times. Would I drive here? I suppose so but thankfully I have not been asked to!
This traffic summary leads to how we spent the day. We headed in to the office with the hopes to meet again with Judith, Paulo and their staff in the morning but unfortunately they had to attend a government meeting in Manila. The meeting is scheduled for less then an hour at 11 am but by the time they get back from meeting a 1 hour drive turns in to a 3+ hour one. We only catch them for about an hour and a half to conduct more interviews. We spend most of the day mapping and sorting the information we have now and make plans to visit one of the Barangay offices on Thursday.
Long day and just need to relax once I get back. Been eating often, and people are so generous with treats in the office that bypassing one dinner is not be a hardship!
#ibmcsc philippines
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