Engage the community in co-creating a pedestrian traffic discipline manual and simulate its application in school zones (PHBAG0003)

Commitment ID

PHBAG0003

Commitment Title

Engage the community in co-creating a pedestrian traffic discipline manual and simulate its application in school zones

Problem

The lack of organized pedestrian traffic discipline manual in school zones contributes to safety risks and traffic congestion.

Economic: Traffic congestion near school zones leads to productivity losses for commuters and parents, as well as increased costs for fuel and vehicle maintenance due to idling and frequent stops.

Social: Unsafe pedestrian behavior poses a significant safety risk to students, parents, and other community members, increasing the potential for accidents and injuries, and disorganized pedestrian and vehicular movement creates stress and frustration among road users, eroding quality of life.

Environmental: Traffic congestion in school zones leads to increased emissions from idling vehicles, contributing to localized air pollution and negatively affecting the health of students, parents and other stakeholders.

Status quo

Baguio City is modernizing its public transport system and developing multi-modal transport options. Key strategic infrastructure goals include decongesting roads, upgrading public transport, and improving active mobility options for cycling and walking across the city.

This commitment specifically targets interventions in school zones. Baguio experiences severe traffic congestion, particularly in the Central Business District (CBD) and school zones. With over 63,000 registered 4-wheeled vehicles and more than 10,000 motorcycles, traffic flows are challenging. Private vehicles make up 87% of all registered vehicles, worsening congestion. Peak hour traffic volumes show that key roads leading to and from the CBD are at capacity, causing long delays.

Despite efforts to improve road infrastructure and raise traffic safety awareness, pedestrian behavior in school zones needs also to be addressed.

This commitment to co-create a pedestrian traffic discipline manual and simulate its implementation in school zones aims to bridge these gaps, providing a scalable solution that supports Baguio's broader vision for urban mobility and safety.

Action

The commitment is to engage the community in co-creating a pedestrian traffic discipline manual and simulate its application in school zones to enhance traffic safety awareness and improve pedestrian behavior.

This commitment entails involvement of parents, students, teachers, local authorities, and other stakeholders in developing the manual to ensure it addresses the specific needs and behaviors in school zones. The traffic discipline manual will outline safe pedestrian practices, traffic rules and create responsibilities for both pedestrians and motorists in school area. Then pilot the manual in selected school zones through practical simulations, enabling stakeholders to practice and refine the guidelines before broader implementation. This will be done through conduct of workshops and educational campaigns to promote awareness and understanding of the manual’s contents among pedestrians and the motorists.

The Expected Results are:

Improved Pedestrian Behavior - Safer and more disciplined pedestrian practices in school zones, reducing accidents and risks.

Enhanced Traffic Flow - Reduced congestion and smoother coordination between pedestrians and vehicles during peak school hours.

Increased Awareness- Greater understanding of traffic rules and responsibilities among students, parents, and other stakeholders.

Community Empowerment- Active participation in co-creating solutions fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility for traffic safety.

How will the commitment contribute to solving the public problem described above?

The commitment addresses the lack of organized pedestrian traffic discipline in school zones by engaging the community in creating and implementing a traffic management manual. By doing so, it: enhances traffic safety by providing a clear and practical guidelines for safe pedestrian behavior, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries, particularly for students and other vulnerable road users; educates pedestrians about traffic safety rules and instills responsible habits through participatory development and simulation activities

The expected outputs are:

• A co-created Pedestrian Traffic Discipline Manual tailored to the needs of school zones.
• Conducted simulation workshops to test and refine the manual in selected school areas.
• Comprehensive traffic safety awareness campaigns targeting students, parents, and local communities.
• Publish data on pedestrian traffic incidents near schools highlighting the need for the manual.

While the expected outcomes are as follows:

• Improved pedestrian behavior and adherence to traffic rules in targeted school zones.
• Enhanced community awareness of traffic safety protocols.
• Stronger collaboration between the local government and the community in solving urban challenges.
• School-led activity that empowers students as ambassadors or traffic marshalls during simulations creating a participatory and experiential experience.

What long-term goal as identified in your Open Government Strategy does this commitment relate to?

This commitment aligns with the long-term goal of enhancing public safety, mobility, and community participation through inclusive and transparent governance, reflecting the Open Government Partnership Vision of Baguio City.

By addressing pedestrian traffic discipline, this commitment plays a vital role in reducing accidents and creating safer environments, particularly in school zones where children, among the most vulnerable members of the community, are at significant risk. The initiative also seeks to alleviate congestion and streamline traffic flow, fostering a more efficient and organized transportation system that benefits all road users.

Furthermore, the co-creation of the pedestrian traffic discipline manual exemplifies the principle of participatory governance by actively involving citizens in crafting solutions to local challenges. This collaborative approach empowers the community, promotes accountability, and ensures that the resulting policies are practical and widely accepted. The process of developing and implementing the manual underscores transparency in governance, building trust by engaging stakeholders in decision-making and demonstrating a commitment to open and inclusive leadership.

This commitment supports the broader Open Government Strategy by advancing a safer, more efficient, and community-oriented urban environment.

Primary Policy Area

Civic Space, Safety Nets & Economic Inclusion

Primary Sector

Education, Infrastructure & Transport

What OGP value is this commitment relevant to?