Urban Core

The study was conducted in Baguio City, 240 kilometers north of Manila,
Philippines. Geographically 5,052 feet above sea level, within a plateau and has a cool climate year-round. However, as in other emerging mega cities in the world, pollution from vehicles is becoming a risk factor among stakeholders; and pedestrianization has been found to be one of the mitigating measures.

The main thoroughfare is called Session Road. Previous studies of Session Road resulted to stakeholders’ concurrence that Baguio’s business district is ‘dysfunctional’ due to factors like air pollution and traffic congestions. Another study on the area’s air quality significantly found that the pollution concentrations present warrant public health concern. Efforts to pedestrianize met strong resistance from the business group and passive political will.

The Technology Acceptance Model was utilized to predict the end-users
acceptance of pedestrianization. Two alternative traffic schemes -
pedestrianization and traffic calming (scheme 1) and pedestrianization and traffic calming with universal shuttle (scheme 2) were presented to stakeholders categorized as vulnerable, students, vehicle operators, commercial and commuters. The desirable features of the two recommended schemes were specified and rated by the stakeholders according to what they perceive as adaptable, safe, and convenient.
The stakeholders’ responses resulted in a moderate acceptability index in terms of adaptability of the first scheme, high acceptability on the adaptability of the second scheme, high acceptability index on safety and convenience for both schemes. Among the major stakeholders, the random commuters’ level of acceptability of the second scheme was significantly higher than the student and the transport-private sector in terms of convenience. And lastly, the desirable features of the schemes were rated according to social sectors.