“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

EDSA is considered to be one of the most important thoroughfares in Metro Manila. But is it actually walkable?

The Move as One Coalition recently held its “May Tao Po sa EDSA” community walk, where mobility advocates traveled 22km on foot to raise awareness about pedestrian concerns.

The route started at Telus Makati near One Ayala, and ended at Caloocan City People’s Park near Monumento. You’d think that walking on EDSA is as simple as going on a straight line.

But the reality is far from that, with all the hazards and obstructions that must be overcome. Department of Transportation secretary Vince Dizon himself admitted: “Delikado pong maglakad sa EDSA.” (“It’s dangerous to walk along EDSA.”)

Some might think that walking on EDSA is madness, so why even fix it? Well, many Filipinos already traverse EDSA on foot, especially those who ride the MRT or the EDSA Carousel.

As we’ve shared before, walking is the most basic form of mobility. It is also the most important one because everyone is a pedestrian the moment they step out of the house, the terminal, or the vehicle.

Active transport complements public transit. There’s no point in having an advanced subway if the stations are inaccessible.

Why does this matter to motorists?

It’s simple, really. If EDSA and the rest of Metro Manila remain hostile to commuters (pedestrians and cyclists included), then traffic will only worsen.

Regardless of whether you like them or not, cars cause congestion. So, the only real way to fix it is to reduce the number of automobiles on the road.

But why would anyone choose mass transit if the commuting experience is so undignified and risky? That’s why the coalition is calling upon the government to prioritize vulnerable road users.

We can’t afford to neglect walking, cycling, and public transport because those are the very solutions to our problems concerning mobility, pollution, and road safety.

To quote the press statement:

“The Move As One Coalition asserts that it is high time to put the needs of pedestrians first in the long-overdue rehabilitation of EDSA. The Coalition holds ‘May Tao Po sa EDSA’ to activate the community of pedestrians and commuters so that their voices will be heard.”

Walking is the foundation of any good transport system. If we don’t start clamoring for a pedestrian-friendly Metro Manila, how will things ever get better?