Runners, mobility advocates push for more safe spaces for pedestrians

MANILA, Philippines – How often do you stroll around your neighborhood? What are the challenges of Filipinos who navigate places by means of walking and running? 

In a chat forum held in the Rappler Communities app, mobility advocates and running club members pointed out how most cities in Metro Manila still have a long way to go in providing safe spaces for pedestrians and runners alike.

With more and more people taking up running as a hobby, they emphasized the need for more public spaces and facilities that can help keep pedestrians safe.

Cris del Rosario of Zeru Multisport and Charles Tan of PARA-Advocates for Inclusive Transport shared how runners and pedestrians are often treated as road obstructions by hot-tempered drivers whenever they cross the road.

Tan added that pedestrians have to exercise extra caution when they’re in the streets since cars are prioritized more.

Just recently, some 2025 election candidates in Manila City suggested building more car-centered roads and parking spaces to ease the city’s traffic problem.

More cities, however, are starting to explore car-free days like Tomas Morato to boost foot traffic and lessen the use of vehicles in the area. Mobility advocates shared though that aside from providing these public spaces, it’s important that these are also kept safe.

Robert Siy of Move as One Coalition and Miguel Aldeguer of EZ Run Club said that runners are prone to harassment, even on car-free roads. This is especially true for female runners, who have to exercise extra caution when they’re out.

With all these challenges, Rappler Communities app user paopferrer could not help but compare Metro Manila to cities in other countries like Singapore, where safe public spaces are a priority.  

Demanding safer roads

Participants of the chat event hoped that Metro Manila will one day to provide safe and inclusive spaces for everyone.

As a start, Tan suggested encouraging barangay officials to join running clubs as a way for them to understand the importance of safe spaces for pedestrians and runners. 

Siy shared that accessibility can start at the barangay level, with each barangay having a park or set of streets geared for pedestrians and civilians.

Meanwhile, Del Rosario pointed out that putting more effort on sidewalks could go a long way.

On a wider scale, Siy added that communities should push their local government units to promote people-centric bridges, such as the Pasig River Esplanade.

Aldeguer also stressed that a cultural shift should be done in order to make these suggestions possible. 

How can ordinary citizens take part

To help promote inclusive and safer spaces, ordinary citizens can take part by joining advocacy groups pushing for people-friendly cities. 

For instance, the Make It Safer Movement, is open to accepting individuals who are interested to join their efforts of influencing local government units in various localities to open their streets for more runners and pedestrians. 

Interested runners may also join running clubs such as EZ Run Club and Zeru Multisport that gather individuals from the different walks of life to promote certain advocacies in the form of running. 

The community chat was done in the liveable cities chat room in the Rappler Communities app. This effort is part of the Make Manila Liveable campaign which aims to tackle and address issues concerning liveability and quality of life. Learn more about the movement here. – with reports from Kyla Simbahon/Rappler.com

Kyla Simbahon is a Rappler volunteer from the University of the Philippines-Los Baños. She is a third year BS Economics student majoring in Environmental Economics. Currently, she is the incumbent Secretary of the UPLB Economics Society and the Associate Director for Legal Affairs of the UPLB Career Assistance Program.