Bringing a car with you may not always be the best option especially with the heavy traffic and rising fuel prices.
Stuck in traffic more days than you can count? A lot of Filipino commuters
can truly relate in more ways than one. While a lot of us contemplate
getting a car to solve this problem, the truth is adding more cars on the
road can usually make the situation worse because the major roads will be
more congested than ever.
Photo by Miguel Barrera |
Even If You Hate The Traffic, Buying A Car May Not Always Be The Answer
With the increasing gas prices on the loose as well, you can expect that
getting a car may be a lot costly, not to mention costly because of additional
expenses, such as car maintenance.
So, we consolidated some ways to help you deal with traffic if you really have
to go during rush hour. We also included some tips so you can avoid traffic
because of the dreaded rush hour (that is, if you have the chance to do so).
Plot your travel time
If you know that you will already encounter heavy traffic as soon as nine in
the morning comes around and dies down at around 11 AM, consider traveling a
couple of hours earlier or later than this window period.
Aside from that, also consider the days when you plan to go out, if you can
help it. For instance, going out on Fridays at around seven in the evening can
prove risky because this is usually when traffic is heaviest. In the same
light, consider minimizing your travel plans during the holiday season because
most of the people will be out and about to buy gifts and visit their friends
and loved ones.
Use the public transpo
While this is obviously not the favored choice, it still is a viable option if
you know how to travel smart. By traveling smart, we mean knowing the time and
the type of public transportation that you need to resort to so you can arrive
at your destination at the soonest possible time.
Aside from helping you save time and money, this helps the environment in a
lot of ways. For instance, using public modes of transpo can help reduce
carbon emissions, thus reducing air pollution in the process.
Because there is one less vehicle that will occupy the streets, there will be
a lower chance of having traffic congestion. While the effects do not seem
significant if you’re the only one who will do this, just imagine if at least
a hundred people will do this instead of riding their private vehicles to and
from their workplaces, homes, and other places they have to go.
Another benefit you can enjoy if you ride the public transpo is the ability to
multitask while you’re commuting. Watch a movie you’ve been putting off for so
long, read a chapter or two of that motivational book that your friend
recommended, or even just catch up with your friends while sending them chat
messages. Provided your ride is not jam-packed, all of these are possible.
Commuting is also ideal if you came from a long day of work. Even if you’re
just sitting, driving can be demanding and tiring. You need to pay full
attention to the road ahead, so you can avoid accidents. This becomes a
crucial point, especially if there’s an impending downpour, as you need to pay
more attention due to decreased visibility and friction of the wheels and the
surface of the road.
Walk if possible
In case you’re not a fan of public transpo and the distance from your current
location to your destination is within a two-kilometer radius, consider
walking to get where you have to go. It may take some time before you get to
where you want to go, but you can reap other benefits while doing so.
First, you can increase your physical activity, thus helping boost the other
aspects of your health. Walking can help clear your head of thoughts. As a
result, it can contribute to improving your mental and psychological health.
You can also save some money by walking relatively short distances. While the
money you save every time you decide to walk may only be a small amount per
trip, it can somehow become a significant amount when you pool the money
together and set it aside for a few months.
If not, consider having another mode of transportation
One of the most common means is the bike. Aside from being a fuel-free option,
you don’t have to think much about upgrades and similar considerations, if
you’re not looking forward to having a flashy unit anyway. It’s a different
story if you get addicted to upgrades, though!
If you’re not a bike person, another option is to carpool with people you
know. With this choice, you get to enjoy the benefits of riding in a car
without worrying about issues, such as gas prices, car maintenance, and car
repairs. Also, you can even bond with your friends better this way as
face-to-face communication is still a lot different from mere online chats.
Stay tuned for major traffic updates
May this be the news or social media updates from legitimate sources, take
note of the announcements a few minutes before you hit the road. These will
already serve as hints of the general route that you have to take from your
current location to your target destination.
Aside from the actual updates themselves, also scan the comments section a
little as fellow commuters and motorists will most likely have a say about the
current road situation. These will give you additional insights, as far as
pushing through with your plans is concerned. You may also consider
looking at car reviews in the Philippines first
before you go out.
Look for some alternative routes ahead of time
This shouldn’t be a problem if you know the area very well. However, if you’ve
only traversed the roads in question for a few times, you may have to do your
research to determine which alternative routes to cross should you discover
that there’s heavy traffic up ahead.
In case your web searches do not yield anything helpful to you at the time,
consider asking around. Maybe you have friends who may be living nearby and
can give you some tips on how to go around the major road. Another option is
to ask your well-traveled acquaintance about their insights.
Use a navigating app
You don’t have to own a car to use this type of mobile app. In fact, you can
plan on walking to and from a specific place and still use this navigating
tool. The point of using this feature is to avoid areas with heavy traffic,
accidents, major delays due to unforeseen incidents, and other similar events.
At the end of the day…
While traffic is inevitable at some point, let your creativity shine through
and look for ways to help you avoid it at all costs. In the long run, this
will not only save you a lot of time but also opportunities to rest and take
care of things that matter the most to you at the moment.
After everything has been said and done and you still feel that getting a car
is the best choice for you, still consider some of the tips mentioned above.
Some of them are still doable anyway if you badly have to avoid traffic at all
costs.
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