(QCOSTARICA) – The Ministry of Transport aims to ban the use of national roads for massive gatherings such as protests and rallies and any activity beyond the natural movement of vehicles, without their express permission.
The draft regulation seeks to ban rallies and protests, cultural, civic, commercial or sports events, among others, on all major routes across the country, with primary emphasis on the San Jose metropolitan area (Gran Area Metropolitana or GAM in Spanish).
The draft regulation would also ban the nightly street racing that is common in many areas around the city.
The objective of the draft regulation is not to allow any type of activity on the major routes from 6:00pm to 5:00am and only by express authorization of the Directorate General of Traffic (Dirección General de Ingeniería de Tránsito) at other times.
If adopted, the regulation would put an end – at least in theory – on the tradition of impromptu protests and rallies that block traffic, such as the latest, the arrival of Andrey Amador. Or the blockade earlier this month o the Ruta 27, from La Sabana to Escazu and the complete blockage of the Guachipelin road in front of the Aresep, by protesting taxi drivers.
Under the draft regulation, the Marcha de la Diversidad and Pride Run scheduled for tomorrow (Sunday June 28), would have required authorization. Unions and social groups wanting to take to the streets would have to also get authorization.
Currently, for the most part, trade unions or any group with a beef about anything, simply announce a date and take to the streets without any authorization. The traffic police take the role of traffic control, without the authority to stop the protests or even apply sanctions (that would probably start a riot).
Paseo Colon, Avenida Segunda and the autopista General Cañas have been routes taken over by ralliers and protestors. The major roads in La Sabana and Rohrmoser are frequently closed off Sunday mornings for sports events. On the east side, the La Hispanidad fountain (in front of San Pedro Mall) is a favourite of protestors.
During the World Cup 2014 play, many major routes were clogged with festivities after the Ticos won their first game. By the third, San Pedro, around the mall, the roads were completely chocked off for hours.
The new regulation is yet another measure by the Ministerio de Obras Publicas y Transportes (MOPT) to solve the growing traffic congestion that has become daily life in many area of the San Jose.
I wonder whether MOPT or someone else came up with the phrase, “the naural movement of vehicles.” Whoever did sure has a warped understanding of nature.
Actually, roads are naturally civic space. They are the shared public property of everyone, and historically used as places for people to gather and discuss public affairs, hawk wares, and shuffle along. It’s only been in the last century or so that roads have become dominated by the aggressive motorized machines of the wealthy, and even today in Costa Rica only a minority drive motor vehicles. The only thing natural about the domination of roads by motor vehicles is “might makes right.”
If MOPT or others want roads solely dedicated to motor vehicle traffic, it is up to them to guarantee equivalent alternative civic space to the public. And sorry, neither narrow little sidewalks (that mororists use for free parking anyway) nor the pedestrian bridges are a satisfactory alternative.
Yeah right, protesters can gather on a pedestrian bridge and pace back and forth. Actually, if they brought some rocks and such to drop on the motor vehicles passing underneath it may work.
Ken, your point is well made. But, I think there is another side of the coin, a comment I read on one of the social media posts, though being played down by the MOPT, is that the authorization would come at a cost. Yes sir, they would charge the unions and protestors a fee to use the roads. Interesting how far this proposal will get.