MILLIONS of Filipino commuters struggle to find innovative ways of getting to work, school, meetings and other destinations amid worsening traffic congestion and an inadequate mass transport system. The arrival of cheaper but reliable Chinese-manufactured motorcycles gave Filipinos an alternative mode of public transportation. Since the early 2010s, there has been a steady influx of imported motorcycles on Philippine roads, allowing low to middle-income households the opportunity to shift from public utility buses and jeepneys to ride-hailing motorcycle services, such as Grab and Joyride. Their fares are relatively lower compared to other modes of public transport, aside from their ability to crisscross heavy traffic and bring their passengers to their destinations in the nick of time. Many Filipinos have also decided to buy their own motorcycles as personal transport vehicles instead of purchasing more costly secondhand sedans.
However, motorcycles have also brought new challenges to Metro Manila’s transportation system. Records from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) showed that motorcycles are involved in a significant number of traffic accidents, resulting in injuries and fatalities. With roughly 10 million motorcycles registered nationwide, their growing presence on the roads has increased concerns on their road safety. Their small size often poses risks to passengers, motorists and pedestrians, especially when riders lack proper training and discipline in driving a two-wheel vehicle. Pollution has also worsened with the many motorcycles running on two-stroke engines. For most car owners, motorcycles are negatively viewed as obtrusive, reckless and aggressive competitors on the roads, swarming around vehicles and suddenly appearing in blind spots with their deafening mufflers.
Yet motorcycle riders have found defenders among party-list lawmakers who have used them as a political platform. Rider associations have also mushroomed across the country to protect their rights and interests against government regulations. At the height of the fuel crisis caused by the Middle East war, the Marcos administration extended cash subsidies to ride-hailing motorcycle drivers, an indication of their growing influence and strength in the political spectrum.
In viral video posts involving road rage altercations, however, Filipinos are appalled by the audacity of some motorcycle riders and their tendency toward violent behavior. In one incident, a gun-wielding rider accosted a driver in an SUV, while his companion punctured the victim’s tires. The PNP has also reported rising crime incidences committed by riding-in-tandem suspects, from robbing convenience stores, ambuscades to sexual harassment and rape.
In truth, motorcycles have helped alleviate the transportation difficulties of many Filipino commuters. Many people have become dependent on them, not only for transport but delivery of meals and other necessities. From workers and students to government employees and ordinary housewives, ride-hailing motorcycles have become ubiquitous in cities across the Philippines. Yet they have also become deadlier and more reckless amid their growing numbers on the roads. Car owners often blame them for the worsening traffic conditions in Metro Manila. And criticizing them on social media will end up in your being bashed as anti-poor.
It is therefore urgent for the national government to pursue legislative measures that promote road safety and strengthen regulations concerning motorcycles as a mode of public transportation. Do we need stricter age requirements and proficiency for motorcycle riders? Should special cameras be installed to monitor their speed and traffic violations? Should riders be afforded higher subsidies for insurance premiums? And finally, how do we keep track of their ownership during criminal investigations?
Until the promise of subways and more MRT stations is realized, ordinary Filipinos will continue to gravitate toward motorcycles as the new kings of the road. They may not be the safest public transportation, but they are indispensable now for millions of Filipinos. And this should remind our nation’s leaders that desperate commuters are willing to forego their safety in order to survive the daily struggles of reaching their destination.
