This SLEx ban is really vague but nevertheless, after zipping past slex numeorus times on my aprilia leonardo 150, i've since upgraded to an x9 albeit a 180cc but nevertheless imposing enough to pass through as a 400cc up maxiscoot.

i've been riding slex for a week now with the scoot then this morning, at the skyway toll plaza (its really much easier to zip by with an e-pass unnoticed..)
the PNCC officer approached me politely and asked what my scoot was.

i yelled from my helmet - sir, amalfi x9 po (as if he knew what i was saying..)
he asked the displacement.

i hollered 500cc and raised my five fingers and did a "500" sign.
he looked behind, saw the 500cc insignia and after his colleague told him that its too big to be a sub 400cc, the enforcer told me.."kasi sir, may motoristang tumawag, 200 cc lang po daw yan.."

"Muka ba itong 200cc? eh mga mga bikes ng PNCC enforcer, 400cc up ba yan?" araw araw ako dumadaan dito tapos sisitahin ninyo ako?"

he scratched his head, gulped and apologized for the hassle he caused, smiled then let me off...


phew. Now which idiot gave a phone call? some cage driver pissed at the traffic and envious that i can just zip by at the wings of the highway?

some biker in a cagewho knows his bikes and scooters and for kicks decided to make sumbong?

"kasi sir, may motoristang tumawag, 200 cc lang po daw yan.."

Most likely the PNCC officer couldnt distinguish an X9 from a Joyride :D .....Hopefully, this BS prohibiting small bikes on the expressways will end soon.

sana nga matapos na ban sa freeways for all of our sakes ! ! ! :wave:

"Muka ba itong 200cc? eh mga mga bikes ng PNCC enforcer, 400cc up ba yan?" araw araw ako dumadaan dito tapos sisitahin ninyo ako?"


i like this line..

its what you call....

"IN YER FACE!!!!"

well, i'm lucky that the x9 is massive and that there really is a 500cc version, although i still would not risk bringing in a smaller scoot/bike as much as i would want to.

the 150cc leonardo is the smallest i have brought in.
i tried to bring in a gilera once but backed out last minute

the other sub-400cc i brought in was a vtr250 honda

i guess the only reason i brought these bikes in is because they look like they are 400cc up but well, i hope malinawan ang ban na ito once and for all...and soon. kung di pwede, make sure they as enforcers abide. Kung pwede then good. i just hope that if the latter day comes, that all bikers who intend to use slex will also be responsible and disciplined.

i think thats the only apprehension i have...not all bikers and scootersitas are disciplined riders..

i just hope that if the latter day comes, that all bikers who intend to use slex will also be responsible and disciplined.

i think thats the only apprehension i have...not all bikers and scootersitas are disciplined riders..[/QUOTE]

yes sir agree if ever the time comes that we be allowed to use the slex/nlex, the next problem is keeping it safe making sure everything runs smoothly, or else all the efforts and time spent fighting and proving that its safer to use the expressways, will be proven wrong by some iresponsible and undisciplined riders.

true! even in the city you'll see these undisciplined riders waving thru cages/trucks etc. riding as if they are on a make believe race track. imagine if one day these kind of riders enters the expressway..... expect accidents. and worst, banning of the sub400s again. then all our efforts will be in vain.

may i say not all but most mc riders are not disciplined.

how can we avoid, or teach those mc riders?

I imagine if the sub 400 would be gone, there will be a test period and just one accident in the highways will put that ruls again.

back to my question

how can we avoid, or teach those mc riders?

btw
i rode my italjet formula 50 once at slex but we had an escort.

In my opinion some underbone riders should learn to use the road in the same way as a car does. Many times I have been driving around to makati in a cage and came across riders who stay on the middle of the lanes(the white lines on the road) or in other words lane splitting. They must think that their bikes are somewhat inferior to cars on the road that they have to always run slow(like 50 kph on edsa) and give way to cars. As long as your bike can run just as fast(80kph and above) as a car then you should not be afraid to use the same space a car would use on the road. Riders who travel slow and on the sides of the road create a hazard for drivers. They run the risk of being sideswipped or hit from behind by drivers not paying attention if they run so slow and on the sides of the road. These could be problems for the Riding community if ever the ban is lifted on the expressways.

Mostly i see the delivery riders who do this, though i sometimes see underbone riders doing it as well.

In my opinion some underbone riders should learn to use the road in the same way as a car does. Many times I have been driving around to makati in a cage and came across riders who stay on the middle of the lanes(the white lines on the road) or in other words lane splitting. They must think that their bikes are somewhat inferior to cars on the road that they have to always run slow(like 50 kph on edsa) and give way to cars. As long as your bike can run just as fast(80kph and above) as a car then you should not be afraid to use the same space a car would use on the road. Riders who travel slow and on the sides of the road create a hazard for drivers. They run the risk of being sideswipped or hit from behind by drivers not paying attention if they run so slow and on the sides of the road. These could be problems for the Riding community if ever the ban is lifted on the expressways.

Mostly i see the delivery riders who do this, though i sometimes see underbone riders doing it as well.
not just UB riders bro. even scooters/bigbikes do this. pero no offense, karaniwan talagang gumagawa eh UB riders. maraming beses nako nakasabay ng ganitong riders. i remember when me and my SRC ride brothers went to tagaytay by cage. we were at the slex talking about the sub400 ban lifting sa espressway. ini-imagine namin ung mga pasaway na riders habang nakikipag pukpukan sa mga rumaragasang bus..... hinangkupu! kakatakut talaga isipin. :crazy: :nuts:

In my opinion some underbone riders should learn to use the road in the same way as a car does. Many times I have been driving around to makati in a cage and came across riders who stay on the middle of the lanes(the white lines on the road) or in other words lane splitting. They must think that their bikes are somewhat inferior to cars on the road that they have to always run slow(like 50 kph on edsa) and give way to cars. As long as your bike can run just as fast(80kph and above) as a car then you should not be afraid to use the same space a car would use on the road. Riders who travel slow and on the sides of the road create a hazard for drivers. They run the risk of being sideswipped or hit from behind by drivers not paying attention if they run so slow and on the sides of the road. These could be problems for the Riding community if ever the ban is lifted on the expressways.

Mostly i see the delivery riders who do this, though i sometimes see underbone riders doing it as well.

IMO pare, and problema lng sa lane splitting eh ung sa mga congested areas. For example, buendia going to The Fort. Maraming kasing jeep na humihinto para magbaba at magsakay ng pasahero. Along buendia naman starting at Shell Maya, maraming kaliwaan diyan at ung ibang sasakyan eh hindi mo malaman kung liliko or didirecho ksi nde sila nagsisignal or nagaalangan sila sa dadaanan nila o kung ano pa man ang problema nila. Aminado ako na gawain ko rin yung lane splitting pero i make it a point na mag-lane split ako kapag bumabagal na yung sasakyan na nsa harap ko at maluwag ung lilipatan kong lane. Kundi mo gagawin to, aabutin ka ng siyam2. Proper signaling lang kailangan at konting ingat at wag naman cguro bumaybay along the road na nasa white line ka, bumabalik rin ako sa lane ko if you catch my drift. Kung trip mo naman mag-overtake, busina ka lng to let the rider know kung san ka magpapass. Marami talagang ignorante na riders with regard to road courtesy kaya damihan mo pa pasensya mo.

Kung sa EDSA naman spot mo nlng ung mga motor na mabagal and leave a considerable space when passing them, ksi tao rin naman yan, kapag na-sagi mo yan at napatay mo, malaking problema yan.

Kapag naka-kotse naman ako, dumidistansya ako sa mga naka-motor ksi alam ko ung gusto nilang gawin, eh yung makasingit hanggang sa unahan ng stop light. Tutal naman kapag trapik eh cila rin naman ung nauuna ksi nakakasingit cila, so why bother makipag-unahan? Why speed on a congested road in the first place? If you have regard to other people, you'll cruise at a considerable speed na nde ka mkakadisgrasya.

With regard to expressways, nde problema yan ksi napakalawak ng daan diyan para magbanggaan pa kyo. Maliit lng naman ang underbones eh and they dont take up that much space. Kung mabagal man sila at nsa tabi lng, eh bakit papansinin mo pa? Kung ma-sideswipe cila problema na nila yun, bsta your doing your part being a courteous driver on the road. If they're not courteous does that mean na dapat ganun ka rin? I think not.

Ganito talaga sa Pilipinas, kaya konting pasensya lng. It all boils down to politics. Kundi sinasamsam ung pera ng taong bayan, nde sana gahaman ang mga jeep sa pasahero, nde sana nadmamadali ang mga messenger na halos maipit na sila sa kakasingit, wala sanang barubal na taxi driver para lang my pang boundary at hndi naghihirap ang bawat Pilipino just to earn a decent living. Cool lang sa daan. Eh kung talagang mainit na ang ulo mo, sagasaan mo nlng :) joke. Opinion ko lang pre, peace tyo! wuhu!

Safe riding to all!

How to Educate the Riders Hmmmm... My idea is to make it a requirement for them to attend a seminar with the joint effort of MCPF and the riding schools. That way walang lagay lagay or politics. Kung di nakapag seminar bawal sa expressway. The rider should present some sort of identification card issued from the seminar to be able to pass the expressways.

Wasted,

It's understandable if most offenders are UBs because they are built slimmer than most scoots. Pero di kaya kasi marami na rin ang population ng UBs that they're the ones noticed more by people?

If the EX-WAYS are gonna be a playground for undisciplined riders then why not just put the law into action? Arrest offenders and make an example of them to other riders so they'll know that these people are serious about keeping the EX-WAYS in order.

Maski naman sa ibang bansa, there are riders who break the law, pero syempre the law is strictly implemented kaya minimal lang ang violators. Kung may nakakalusot man, di din siguro ganon karami. Ang kulang kasi dito sa atin pag may mga traffic violators un mga roadblocks (or could this just be a result of me watching too much Most Exciting Police Chases :O).

Wasted,

It's understandable if most offenders are UBs because they are built slimmer than most scoots. Pero di kaya kasi marami na rin ang population ng UBs that they're the ones noticed more by people?

If the EX-WAYS are gonna be a playground for undisciplined riders then why not just put the law into action? Arrest offenders and make an example of them to other riders so they'll know that these people are serious about keeping the EX-WAYS in order.

Maski naman sa ibang bansa, there are riders who break the law, pero syempre the law is strictly implemented kaya minimal lang ang violators. Kung may nakakalusot man, di din siguro ganon karami. Ang kulang kasi dito sa atin pag may mga traffic violators un mga roadblocks (or could this just be a result of me watching too much Most Exciting Police Chases :O).
hehehe... i watch that too bro. and i really admire the tolerance those chase cops gives to the offenders/suspects. grabe minsan they even curse the officers.

tama ka. UBs are slimmer than most scoots kaya they feel that they can maneuver their ride easily. it makes them feel and think that they're fast enough that they sometimes loose their judgement which often leads to accidents. but then, maybe mas marami lang talaga ang UB kaya sila ang mas nakikita.

bro, undisciplined riders plagues our streets and i don't think we can have the proper solution unless kotong cops are taken out of our traffic system. kaya nga all i can do is think of what the consequences will be if the X-WAYS will be open for all. and hey... i'm not a perfect disciplined rider but i do know that safety is a keyword whenever i ride/drive.

ride safe bro ;)

How to Educate the Riders Hmmmm... My idea is to make it a requirement for them to attend a seminar with the joint effort of MCPF and the riding schools. That way walang lagay lagay or politics. Kung di nakapag seminar bawal sa expressway. The rider should present some sort of identification card issued from the seminar to be able to pass the expressways.

Hmmm... A very good suggestion... Ito dapat ang prerequisite bago makadaan ng expressways, dapat may schooling at proper ID/certification... Problema lang, sa bikers population, medyo mahihirapan tayo sa ganyang seminar...

How to Educate the Riders Hmmmm... My idea is to make it a requirement for them to attend a seminar with the joint effort of MCPF and the riding schools. That way walang lagay lagay or politics. Kung di nakapag seminar bawal sa expressway. The rider should present some sort of identification card issued from the seminar to be able to pass the expressways.

I suggest you think deeper about what you are saying. Our main argument for years, supported by research and figures from Europe, USA, Asia, (including the Philippines) etc is that the tollways are the safest roads for most bikes. Approximately 200 times safer than the service roads.

If we say a rider needs special training or a permit to use the tollways we might as well say that bikes should not be used anywhere in the Philippines. Riding in the city is multiple times more dangerous than the tollways and far more difficult. It would be a message to government and the tollways authorities saying tollways are too dangerous, which is the direct opposite of the truth but Oh Boy they would love it. Just think, they could ban all bikes from city centers because they are even more dangerous than tollways. No more crooks escaping on bikes. They dont need to ban backriders or helmets. They could easily just ban all bikes because we said they are dangerous!

But... Education is needed and we will spearhead an education campaign with posters etc but the fact is that riders only need to know a few simple rules due to the differences between city and tollways riding.

There may be more but here is what comes to mind for me:

The first thing to remember is that unlike in the city, there are likely to be lots of vehicles moving faster than you so you absolutely must keep constantly checking your mirrors for fast moving vehicles coming up behind you and keep out of their way. I really want to emphasize this. I ride a CB1300 very fast on tollways but still I am occasionally surprised by a faster vehicle coming alongside me. Checking your mirrors every few seconds is an absolute must. If cagers or bikers want to prove they are faster than you, just let them go ahead.

You should be as visible as possible. This means lights ON, proper working brake lights and signal lights. Reflective clothing, bright colors, etc are all of value.

Keep in mind that most cagers don't understand the basic rule of keep right unless overtaking and it is not enforced. There will be slow vehicles obstructing traffic in every lane so it follows that there is fast moving traffic weaving in and out at high speed overtaking in every lane. Follow the basic rule of keep right unless overtaking. If you are constantly checking your mirrors and keeping right you even have a hard shoulder to move onto if you have to but... Remember cagers sometimes use the hard shoulder to overtake so don't assume it is always clear. Check your mirrors.

When cruising in the right lane and approaching off-ramps be especially watchfull for vehicles overtaking on your left who may cut accross in front of you to turn off.

Watch out for bits fallen off the dilapidated wrecks using the tollways or lumps of wood, rocks, spare tires, etc that fell of trucks. You will be approaching them much faster than in the city but will normally see them sooner and have more space to manouver around them.

If you cannot keep up with the traffic flow or stay close to (preferably in front of but not slowing it down) a slow moving vehicle there is a risk of being rear ended. You put yourself and others in danger. In this case it is better for you NOT to use the tollways. Sometimes even a bicycle is faster than the cages on parts of SLEX but in some places the traffic is all moving at between 80 and 100kph.

If you cannot overtake a slower vehicle quickly and easily, don't do it. You will be at risk from faster traffic while overtaking.

Small bikes will run happily all day in the city and many can easily reach and cruise at 100kph but many cannot maintain this speed for very long periods so use gas stations etc to give your bike a break. If you feel your bike must rest and there are no gas stations, do not just ride slowly. Pull off onto the hard shoulder and stop on the extreme right side of the hard shoulder so any fast traffic on the hard shoulder can safely pass. If you can find a place where the shoulder is wide, so much the better.

Set a good example on the road. Lets show the cagers that we are safer and more responsible than they think. Dont jump the queue at toll gates. We don't want upset cagers campaigning against us.

The good ponts:
Over 80% of the causes of accidents involving motorcycles simply do not exist on the tollways.

If you stay alert, keep up with traffic and check your mirrors every few seconds it is unlikely you will have any problems on the tollways.

In the two years that all bikes were allowed on the tollways there were 2 accidents involving bikes. Both were big fast bikes and both accidents were caused by trucks. There have been zero reported incidents involving small bikes on tollways. There were many deaths during the same period caused by buses.

In most cases when something does happen you have much more space to manauver to avoid the problem than you do in city riding.

There are usually few, if any potholes on freeways but this it not always true on the hard shoulder or even on the main lanes after heavy rain.

No pedestrians, no jeepney and bus stops, no open manholes, usually no loose sand or gravel, no vehicles coming out of sideturnings, no opposing traffic, no tricycles, etc., but always expect the unexpected.

How to Educate the Riders Hmmmm... My idea is to make it a requirement for them to attend a seminar with the joint effort of MCPF and the riding schools. That way walang lagay lagay or politics. Kung di nakapag seminar bawal sa expressway. The rider should present some sort of identification card issued from the seminar to be able to pass the expressways.

I know you must be well meaning and all but isn't it the point of the fight against the 400cc limit is that it was set arbitrarily by a group that should not have the power to set such limitations (the PNCC). Yet, your proposal is to have a different NON-DOTC group (in this case the MCPF) conduct a NON-OFFICIAL activity (the seminar) to stand as the basis for entry into SLEX. Sorry but I cannot agree with that.

I know you must be well meaning and all but isn't it the point of the fight against the 400cc limit is that it was set arbitrarily by a group that should not have the power to set such limitations (the PNCC). Yet, your proposal is to have a different NON-DOTC group (in this case the MCPF) conduct a NON-OFFICIAL activity (the seminar) to stand as the basis for entry into SLEX. Sorry but I cannot agree with that.

Point well taken. Based on Frank and your explanation it does give power to PNCC and justify their claim. Anyways I am confident the MCPF can arrange a way to educate the riders via materials and we are here to support them.

Just keeping my fingers crossed for this. :rolleyes:

Just keeping my fingers crossed for this. :rolleyes:


me too... sana matupad na

... Education is needed and we will spearhead an education campaign with posters etc but the fact is that riders only need to know a few simple rules due to the differences between city and tollways riding.

There may be more but here is what comes to mind for me:

The first thing to remember is that unlike in the city, there are likely to be lots of vehicles moving faster than you so you absolutely must keep constantly checking your mirrors for fast moving vehicles coming up behind you and keep out of their way. I really want to emphasize this. I ride a CB1300 very fast on tollways but still I am occasionally surprised by a faster vehicle coming alongside me. Checking your mirrors every few seconds is an absolute must. If cagers or bikers want to prove they are faster than you, just let them go ahead.

You should be as visible as possible. This means lights ON, proper working brake lights and signal lights. Reflective clothing, bright colors, etc are all of value.

Keep in mind that most cagers don't understand the basic rule of keep right unless overtaking and it is not enforced. There will be slow vehicles obstructing traffic in every lane so it follows that there is fast moving traffic weaving in and out at high speed overtaking in every lane. Follow the basic rule of keep right unless overtaking. If you are constantly checking your mirrors and keeping right you even have a hard shoulder to move onto if you have to but... Remember cagers sometimes use the hard shoulder to overtake so don't assume it is always clear. Check your mirrors.

When cruising in the right lane and approaching off-ramps be especially watchfull for vehicles overtaking on your left who may cut accross in front of you to turn off.

Watch out for bits fallen off the dilapidated wrecks using the tollways or lumps of wood, rocks, spare tires, etc that fell of trucks. You will be approaching them much faster than in the city but will normally see them sooner and have more space to manouver around them.

If you cannot keep up with the traffic flow or stay close to (preferably in front of but not slowing it down) a slow moving vehicle there is a risk of being rear ended. You put yourself and others in danger. In this case it is better for you NOT to use the tollways. Sometimes even a bicycle is faster than the cages on parts of SLEX but in some places the traffic is all moving at between 80 and 100kph.

If you cannot overtake a slower vehicle quickly and easily, don't do it. You will be at risk from faster traffic while overtaking.

Small bikes will run happily all day in the city and many can easily reach and cruise at 100kph but many cannot maintain this speed for very long periods so use gas stations etc to give your bike a break. If you feel your bike must rest and there are no gas stations, do not just ride slowly. Pull off onto the hard shoulder and stop on the extreme right side of the hard shoulder so any fast traffic on the hard shoulder can safely pass. If you can find a place where the shoulder is wide, so much the better.

Set a good example on the road. Lets show the cagers that we are safer and more responsible than they think. Dont jump the queue at toll gates. We don't want upset cagers campaigning against us.


Frank, it would be a grand idea to post a follow-up thread specifically on this matter - tollway ettiquette - how not to get cagers more pissed off or envious of riders. :O

seriously, this would be a good direction to take... constant EDUCATIONAL reminders, on MCP, to everyone on what to expect riding through the tollways and, how to ride the tollways. this will hopefully benefit all the reader riders out there who may not yet have experienced riding through the tollways - it will be a sort of eye opener and introductory toll way ettiquette 101.

So by the time the tollways are opened to sub-400s, most should be responsible enough to know what not and what to do and what to expect on the tollways. :cheers:

Just created a thread titled Tollway Riding Etiqutte 101:
http://motorcyclephilippines.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35480

You guys may want to contribute your experiences riding the tollways... and put our best foot forward to show everybody why we richly deserve to be legal on the tollways. :)