- Collaborative scheme dubbed, ‘Kalye Share’ is envisioned to address the problem on traffic
- The road sharing campaign was launched by the Bayanihan sa Daan Movement in partnership with the DOST
- The project will feature the Hybrid Electronic Road Train previously launched by the the DOST
A societal approach which aim to address the problem on traffic is expected to be generated through a collaborative scheme launched by the Bayanihan sa Daan Movement and the Dept. of Science and Technology (DOST) dubbed ‘Kalye Share.’
Photo Credit: DOST
Assistant Secretary Raymund Liboro said that Kalye Share, a road sharing campaign, will feature the Hybrid Electric Road Train of the DOST.
Liboro said the concept of “Kalye Share” is not new, but this is the first time that the Bayanihan sa Daan Movement partnered with the DOST; an article written by Ma. Cristina C. Arayata which was published by InterAksyon stated.
Bayanihan sa Daan Movement, a non-profit organization, advocates healthy lifestyle through environment-friendly means of transportation such as bicycles and eco-friendly motor vehicles, among others, the report noted.
As described by Liboro, road sharing touches individual mobility to collective mobility which will then transform the road into a more efficient one.
Recently, a demo ride of the electric road train which started from Road 11, SM Mall of Asia (near Globe Rotunda) passing through Roxas Blvd. to Museo Pambata, Luneta Park in Manila, was held for selected guests and passengers.
The DOST assistant secretary said that it is their job at the DOST to look at innovations that would help ease the society’s problems; further noting that the department offer possible concepts and solutions.
As such, he disclosed that based on the response from the private sector, they seemed satisfied with the demo train ride.
In addition to this, Liboro explained that although the DOST conducted a demo ride of the road train during the Science and Technology Week celebration last year, it was only now that the people saw the road train on a main thoroughfare like Roxas Blvd.
Last year, the demo ride was conducted within the vicinity of the Mall of Asia.
Meanwhile, the Hybrid Electric Road Train was designed and fabricated by engineers from the Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC); an attached agency of DOST.
Launched on June 25 last year at the Clark Freeport Parade Ground in Pampanga, the train consists of five interlinked coaches. Four coaches can accommodate about 60 passengers each, or approximately, a total of 240 passengers per trip.
On information why trains were selected as a means of transportation, Rio Pagtalunan, the MIRDC Analysis and Testing Division chief, said trains are considered the most efficient mode of transportation.
Pagtalunan said that the road train is powered by a hybrid engine that runs either on diesel fuel or electric batteries and produces less smoke emissions which makes it environment-friendly. It has a maximum speed of 50 kph.
In its launching in 2015, DOST Secretary Mario Montejo said he is hopeful that the train will be visible in the streets once it is fully commercialized.
Furthermore, Montejo stressed that the larger capacity the train can accommodate, the more ideal it will be for commuters, especially during rush hours.
Aside from the fact that it is Filipino-made and the parts are locally sourced, Liboro said the road train has wide doors and was also designed to accommodate more standing passengers.
With regards to the road sharing activity, the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD), provided the following lane allocations:
The southbound side of Roxas Blvd. was closed to motor vehicles and was pedestrianized. The outermost lane was allocated for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and children, and one lane for pedestrians. One lane was also allocated for cyclists where orange barriers were placed to protect them from the road train. The innermost lane was allotted for the road train.
On the other hand, the northbound side, was devoted for motor vehicles both going north and south. The four lanes of the northbound lanes were divided as follows: two lanes for private vehicles and two lanes for public vehicles. Furthermore, the northbound lane was looped with Taft Ave. to lessen traffic congestion, according to PCIEERD.
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