The newly installed ramp along EDSA Busway has been causing a lot of buzz online.
While the purpose of creating this ramp is to be able to cater to persons with disabilities (PWDs), wheelchair users who have used this area found it too steep.
Many have aired their concerns online on the structure of the ramp as most of them even pointed out that it does not contribute to efficiency.
One user wrote, “Looks more like a rollercoaster ride. Whoever thought up this monstrosity should be forced to navigate it in a wheelchair. Just sayin’ What is the slope? What does the law allow for public wheelchair ramps?”
Another user wrote, “Not friendly to PWD… and those connecting walkways in LRT and MRT… and the long walk… pls make use of talented Filipino architects and engineers… we have plenty of them.”
“Whoever was involved in this project needs to get their BSA or MArch Degree Re-Evaluated, that is literally a massive Liability,” a third user wrote.
A Facebook user gave an insight and wrote, “How steep is that? Why not just install an elevator, it takes up less space. What’s the speed limit when going down the ramp and what stops the wheelchair when it gets to the bottom?”
“How about the building? If in case of fire, the elevator will not function and the pwd will be using the staircase? We should redesign on how they escape if they are using a wheelchair,” another user suggested.
With the witty minds of Filipinos, several memes have also popped up with their own quippy comments.
MMDA previously doubled down on their design choice with a statement posted on their official social media account….
…though they seem to have backpedaled a bit with MMDA acting chairman Don Artes’ statement that the contractor of the viral wheelchair ramp will implement an alternative solution to address public safety concerns.
While the thought is there in making it easy for PWDs to be able to cross in the EDSA Busway, they should have done more planning in terms of the structure of the ramp to ensure that those who would be passing here are safe and comfortable. Maybe see things from the perspective of actual, would-be users?
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