A couple of thoughts on traffic and commuting started dancing around in my head, on my way to work yesterday morning.
I was riding an (a?) FX whose aircon was so pitiful I had to whip out (quite proudly if I may add) my girly, blue, foldable fan.
First thought: motorbikes
Considering these motorized, two-wheelers plying Metro Manila streets, one is led to wonder if there is some law governing their usage. There is no doubt to the advantages of using these zippy modes of transport - they're cheap, fuel efficient, and can get you from point A to point B quickly, even if it means doing horizontal loop-de-loops around automobiles and pedestrians.
I can only shake my head whenever I see a motorbike lacking the basic safety equipment. Most motorbikes (especially those new, smaller motorcycles which are widely popular for their customizable accessories) don't have side mirrors. Again, I can only guess if this is legislated, or left to the user's discretion.
Helmets are required riding paraphernalia as far as one Metro city I know of, but I'm not sure if it's a national law. What saddens me most is seeing an entire family (mom, dad, and several kids!) riding ONE motorbike - the smallest is sandwiched between parents while the other 2 hold on to mom at the back for dear life. And more often than not, motorbikes with 2 or more riders almost always only have one helmeted rider: the driver. I've even seen kids riding motorized scooters on their own!
I read (or heard) in the news somewhere that motorbike accidents and fatalities have increased recently,most likely due to the fact that there are now more of them out there.
I'm pretty sure that with high fuel prices, these motorized mayhems will continue to grow in popularity, and with the [seemingly] absence of government regulation (both in the sales/distibution and safety enforcement), motorbike accidents would prove "popular" as well. And that's without saying that motorbikes are the transportation of choice of drive-by snatchers...
Next post: roadworthy-ness
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