Curious about what it's like to ride in the Philippines?

[mpkayeuk]

No, I thought not! But in case you are, here's the vid for a little solo ride I did last weekend

https://youtu.be/Jb5Xv9HU4zg

[dukeboy749r]

Very nice - the roads seem decent enough, and whilst the driving standards don't appear as bad as say India, are they relatively good, or total rubbish?

Many opportunities to get pulled over by the police, or are you pretty sure of a nice run out every time, with little chance of seeing law enforcement?

[PIGINAWIG]

Nice video - ruined by the music for me.

[mpkayeuk]

dukeboy749r said:

Very nice - the roads seem decent enough, and whilst the driving standards don't appear as bad as say India, are they relatively good, or total rubbish?

Many opportunities to get pulled over by the police, or are you pretty sure of a nice run out every time, with little chance of seeing law enforcement?

Driving standards are pretty poor, but because that route is relatively lightly used (and mostly recreational), you don't get to see that. Riding in Manila is like dicing with death. If you ride on Sundays, the recreational routes will be full of crazy scooter riders. Many times I have been confronted with a rider coming at me head on because he has totally misjudged a corner. In fact, I have had someone overshoot a right hand corner so badly that he went around my nearside! But if you ride during the week or on Saturdays (this was a Sat), you will avoid most of that.

In terms of the police... I don't worry about it at all. Speed is basically unenforced except on some expressways which are privately owned. If you are stopped for any other kind of violation, most of the time, you can offer the cop the equivalent of a tenner and he will wish you politely on your way. The rest of the time your license will be confiscated and you have to collect it from the local city hall and pay a modest fine. Job done.

[leighz]

nice vid

looks like a very entertaining part of the world (not just from a 2-wheeled point of view)

how does duterte feel about speeders?

anyhow - I realise it's a bit warmer there than here however - put a jacket on man!

[tjlazer]

Wetter than expected this morning, leather wasn't a great choice. Still I wanted to ride as next week looks artic and after last year's morning ice skating into a heap outside the office I'll be back in the 'cage' with the rest of the wretched souls on my usual commute.

[Shambler]

Driving in the Philippines is fine as long as you realise that you need to take your time especially with tricycles and animals getting in the way

[mpkayeuk]

Shambler said:

Driving in the Philippines is fine as long as you realise that you need to take your time especially with tricycles and animals getting in the way

I've driven over 20k km in the last 2 years and ridden 8k km on my Super Duke. I've driven all over the Philippines, on every major island, including Mindanao. While I would say it is mostly just about okay, I can not agree that it's fine. Driving and riding standards are poor, which is borne out by the horrendous road casualty figures.

On every single journey I see driving behaviours that fall way below those that are expected in the UK. Animals are the very least of the problems. I see cars and bikes modified with red headlights and white tail and brake lights, I come across vehicles at night without reflectors or lights at all. I come across a LOT of vehicles at night driving at full beam the whole time because they have heavily tinted windows, including the windscreen. I see trikes make u-turns without signalling or looking behind. I see all kinds of vehicles pulling across lanes from the far offside to the nearside without so much as a care for what's behind, either by observation or by signalling. I've been driven into by a Jeepney merging from the right where the space for him to merge into simply did not exist. Vehicles frequently travel against the flow in the opposing carriageway. The list of stupid driving is, literally, endless.

ETA: And that's not to mention the hyper aggressive nature of Filipino drivers. Culturally, Filipinos are generally very approachable, inquisitive and delightful people. Put them in a car and they totally transform into the most selfish aholes possible. They will fight tooth and nail for every single inch of road space and will not let people merge and crucify you for the slightest hesitation.

I could understand your position if you've only driven in the province, where car ownership is lower... but if you've ever lived in Metro Manila, as I do, the above is everyday stuff.

Edited by mpkayeuk on Friday 16th November 15:19

[mpkayeuk]

leighz said:

anyhow - I realise it's a bit warmer there than here however - put a jacket on man!

I do normally wear a mesh jacket but it was especially warm and humid that day, I just couldn't face it! Stupid, I know... At least I wore my boots and gloves

[caley64]

Ridden a DT 125 on Boracay which was fine but Metro Manila !! One of the few places I've been where I was quite happy to not be the driver.