"I'm sure there are a lot of guys here who own big bikes but i just can't let this pass. On my way to Manila i came across this group of bikers (mostly hondas) weaving in and out of traffic disregarding traffic rules. What irked me the most was seeing their leader cutting into the opposite lane (counterflowing) and motioning the approaching vehicles to make way for the other bikers. WTH? I was really disappointed because i thought that big bike riders were more disciplined than their scooter/tricycle counterparts. Oh well, they may have been the minority. Road rules are to be followed by everyone, no one is above the law. I am not generalizing here and am merely relaying what i personally observed today. I'm sure there are a lot of disciplined big bike/scooter/tricycle drivers. Drive safe and responsibly everyone! Happy Holidays!"
This kind of rant went on for around 6 pages. Just a little bit more and they would have started a mob and indiscriminately bashing random bikers.
I posted this reply
Greetings,
I was forwarded this thread by a biker cager friend of mine and being a biker I decided to give my 2 centavos.
I used to have a car and maybe in the future I'd get another one but now my bike is my only means of transportation. This is mainly because I can't stand the traffic, hate looking for parking and can't afford gas. What I've grown to love is the freedom and amount of fun biking brings to my life. I use my baby during my daily commute and on long rides around the country.
I don't condone reckless and inconsiderate behaviors and apologize for fellow riders who participate in this kind of riding.
I'd like to give an understanding into why we ride the way we do.
SAFETY = MAYABANG
I don't have a wang wang on my bike but I do have a car alarm to make really irritating hi pitch noises. I was even toying with the idea of putting a selecta ice cream jingle. One of the biggest dangers on a motorcycle is not being noticed. What I have learned from riding is you need to telegraph your movement to everyone around you. And it may seem mayabang but reflective gear and signal lights and body movement are perfectly legal ways of calling attention to your self. As we ride we constantly have to scream I'm here! I have encountered many near misses with trikes, busses, jeeps and cars who suddenly swerve make turns cut lanes without seeing me. And sadly have encountered several accidents because people did not see the motorcycle.
On the point of over taking, once again it is safer to overtake while being highly visible. this again may seem like we are being mayabang but it is a safety measure to call attention to ourselves.
What I frown upon is making other vehicles pull over but people are people whether they are on bikes or cars. Sadly if you got a coupla grand to spend on blinkers and a wang wang people will do it.
THE TRAIN
The reason we ride in groups is because there is safety in numbers. If you encounter a few big bike on the road it acts as a beacon to commuters that there might be more coming. Again it helps with drawing attention to ourselves.
THREADING NOT COUNTERFLOWING
Someone pointed out that they'd rather let the bikes pass then be stuck behind a train of 20 big bikes which occupy the space of 10 cars. Imagine this situation in metro manila if all the small scooters and motorcycles weren't organic and flowed around traffic and each occupied half a car slot. Sadly, because the sheer number of vehicles sticking to your space and not threading thru traffic would cause more mayhem and delays.
If the traffic is heavy and there is enough space in between lanes threading is allowed. Greeting on coming traffic head on and making vehicles pull over is not.
HATE
What saddens me is the amount of hate and anger in this thread. Baseball bats and praying for people to get into accidents isn't the answer. Be it in a cage or on 2 wheels there will always be bad apples, sadly our LTO doesn't have the capability of weeding them. What is needed to create a better driving and riding environment are better infrastructure and regulations.
The reality is because of the restrictive cost of 4 wheels, 2 wheels will continue to pick up in sales and we need to be able to coexist.
