As reported on ABS-CBN News TV Patrol last night, Mad Dog MC Club Member and Australian national Neil Barnes was killed in an accident involving a passenger bus and Mr. Barnes.

According to eyewitness reports, the bus rear-ended Mr. Barnes as their group was slowing down to pull into a gas station along the South Luzon Expressway. The driver of the bus apparently escaped after the accident (according to the news report). Curiously the initial report on the ABS-CBN News website has mysteriously disappeared and is no longer viewable.

This is not the first time an accident involving passenger buses and motorcycles have been covered by mainstream media. But this is the first time in a long while that a member of a well known and respected MC Club was involved.

We hope that this case will receive justice swiftly. We remember all too well the runaround some families have been given.

Motorcycle Philippines extends it’s condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Neil Barnes.

from the MDMC website.

Lawmakers seek motorbike ban on highways
Thursday, January 3, 2008

Two lawmakers have filed a bill at the House of Representatives seeking to ban motorcycles on main thoroughfares and national highways.

Reps. Narciso Santiago of the Alliance for Rural Concerns and Marcelino Teodoro of Marikina said House Bill 3080 aims to prevent road accidents, particularly those involving motorcycles.

Citing a World Health Organization report, Santiago said in many Asian countries including the Philippines, road accidents are usually caused by motorcycles.

“Nearly 1.2 million persons die of road traffic accidents every year, 40 percent of which are under 25 years old,” he said.

Santiago said young motorcyclists make up a significant percentage of injuries and fatalities among road users in many Asian countries.

Among the accident reports cited by WHO, speeding, non-use of helmets, risk-taking behavior and drunk driving were contributing factors to the rising trend of traffic accidents, he added.

Teodoro said an Asian Development Bank report on road safety in the Philippines showed that motorcyclists were the “second most at risk” of being killed or injured in a road accident.

“At present, motorcycles are a growing concern as its number increased to 40 percent per year in the last three years,” he revealed.

Records from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority showed that motorcycles have the highest fatality accident rate with 122 motorcycles or 23.6 percent of the total fatal accidents. – Delon Porcalla

…. A few days ago this was the news that shocked the motorcycle riding community even the people involved in the business of motorcycles.

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Before we start dancing on the streets, this is still limited to bikes 400cc and up, which still basically excludes the majority of the riding population.

From GMA News TV

Motorcycles with engine displacement of at least 400 cubic centimeters (CC) can now use expressways but owners must strictly comply with toll way rules and regulation, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said Friday.

In the latest department order signed by DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza, dated October 4, 2007, 400 cc motorcycles will be allowed access in all expressways but they must comply with all the provision stated in Republic Act 4136 known as the Land Transportation and Traffic Code of the Philippines.

The order will replace the March 23, 2007 order of the DOTC No 2007-15 that declared all expressways as Limited Access Facilities and restricts all types of motorcycle from entering toll ways.

Based on the new order, motorcycles drivers should religiously observe roadworthiness, safety standards issued by competent authorities and licensing requirements.

Motorcycles must follow speed limits prescribed by law and toll way operators, must not lane-split and overtake in between lanes and must not use lanes normally used by other vehicles in accordance with safe motoring and practice.

The department order added that motorcycles must also travel with their headlights on at all times to improve and enhance their visibility to other toll way users and must ensure that their tail lights and turn-signal lights are working at all times.

Motorcycle owners, at the same time, will be allowed only one back rider and must each use protective gears particularly helmets.

They will also not be allowed to load extra cargo except for normally accepted saddlebags and for luggage carriers specifically designed for motorcycles.

Motorcycle users shall also pay a toll rate prescribed by a current class I vehicles and encouraged to use electronic toll collection equipment (E-pass or EC-Tag).

Let me repost an article written by Inquirer writer and fellow rider Randy David. It has an interesting point of view on all the discussions regarding the total Motorcycle ban on the freeways. It presents no side, has no biases instead presents the situation as it really is.

I remember the first time I drove a motorcycle on the expressway. It was 1967, and the new North Diversion Road (as it was then called) was almost finished, although it had not yet officially opened. I realized then that some motorcycles are made for open highways, while others do better on city roads. The concept of “limited access highways” was new in our country.
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By: Gerry Cornejo, MCPF Director

Very early this morning, at around 0630H, July 28, I got this text message from MCPF Director ATOY STA. CRUZ – “ MMDA returns the ordinance (motorcycle plate no. sticker on helmet) to PNP NCRPO for further study they will not implement the said law”.

I was overjoyed with the news and immediately called up Director ATOY to get more details. He confirmed sending the text message and told me that he heard the news over one of the AM radio stations this morning.

Before requesting MCP main man BIMBO “BoyG” ISIDRO for a news posting on the MCP website, I called up MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando himself at around 0830H this morning (July 28, 2007) and was able to talk personally to Chairman BF, who confirmed the news.

Chairman Ferndando said that because of various concerns from the motorcycle riding community, the MMDA had indeed returned the proposal to PNP-NCRPO for further study.
In other words : HINDI NA PO MATUTULOY ANG IMPLEMENTATION NG PROPOSED MMDA ORDINANCE NA LAGYAN NG STICKER NG PLATE NO. ANG MGA HELMET NG MGA NAG-MOMOTORSIKLO.

MCPF Director Atoy Sta. Cruz added that according to his high-ranking sources at the PNP NCRPO, the police authorities will submit another proposal to the MMDA and DOTC, involving the use of reflectorized motorcycle vests NATIONWIDE and not only in Metro Manila. These vests will have the plate no., blood type and other important information that will identify the rider.

Director Atoy also said that this is something which the MCPF will be inclined to support because it will be for the safety of the motorcycle rider, and will be a more effective means of curbing crimes committed using motorcycles.

Mabuhay at maraming salamat sa lahat ng mga sumoporta sa MCPF, MCP at sa lahat ng mga tumutol sa panukalang batas ng MMDA ng lagyan ng sticker ang ating mga helmet.