For the last six years motorcycle riders in the Philippines have been actively fighting against laws, legislation and even rules dreamed up by construction companies that put motorcycle riders in danger or restrict their freedom as tax paying motor vehicle owners.

The ban on motorcycles using the tollways which are the safest possible roads forcing riders to use service roads that are probably the most dangerous in the country was started because over 30 years ago motorcycle riding presidential escourts were told to remove their helmets and ride wearing straw hats. One was killed because he was not wearing a helmet so they blamed the road and banned motorcycles from tollways!

Years later after the courts said the ban was illegal the PNCC introduced a new ban on all bikes less than 400cc (about 99% of bikes) because in the words of the chairman at that time “People who can’t afford to ride bikes over 500cc are poor and uneducated”. He was argued down to 400cc but the ban has nothing to do with safety for bikers or anyone else.

While much of the modern world is actively encouraging the use of motorcycles to reduce congestion and polution the Philippines is largely doing the opposite and being anti-motorcycle. There are notable exceptions like motorcycles not being included in the “color coding” scheme that bans car drivers from using their vehicles in city centers on one day each week.

In recent months it has been realized that because motorcycles are the only vehicles that can slip through the chaotic, lawless mess of Manila traffic criminals are using them as getaway vehicles. To try to combat this, one counsellor decided to introduce a no backride law (no passengers on motorcycles). Another decided that because these criminals are hard to recognize when wearing full face helmets he would introduce a ban of full face helmets while another said everyone passing through their part of the city must register their helmets! Lastly a senator decided he would introduce a law that all motorcyclists must paint their name and plate number on their helmet!

Thousands of riders have saved for years to buy a bike to reduce their commuting costs, often with a second member of the family riding on the back being taken to work or school. These people would be forced to continue their payments on the bike (or sell it at a loss) while members of the family are forced to use public transport vehicles that statistics show are the most dangerous vehicles in the country and certainly kill far more people than motorcycle riding crooks.

Riders passing through a certain part of town would have to find city hall (assuming it is open at the time) to go and pay for a sticker before they can continue. Many riders like myself pass through this area at night so they, presumably, would have to make a separate trip (about three hours for me) just to get a sticker to pass through at night when nobody can see it anyway.

Painting your name and plate number on your helmet would mean damaging very expensive safety equipment. If you have more than one bike you would need multiple helmets at a cost of between 2,000 and 30,000 pesos each and what would it achieve anyway?

All these rules of course would have little or no effect on criminals who are bold enough to walk up to someone in broad daylight in a crowded area, shoot someone then jump on the back of a bike and disappear. If they cant wear a full face helmet they will just wear a half face helmet and add a bandana and sunglasses like many messengers do. If the law says they can’t backride they will arrive at the scene separately, the killer does his evil deed, jumps on the bike and disappears as usual. Stickers and painted numbers can easily be duplicated or stolen. If the law enforcement agencies are unable to catch them now what difference would stickers and silly rules make? The only people effected are the innocent motorcycle riders.

On June 10th members of the estimated 120,000 member Motorcycle Philippines Federation (MCPF) said enough is enough. In spite of the fact that it is very difficult for most people to get time off work somewhere between 600 and 1,000 riders met at the Quezon Memorial Circle to inform cousellors and senators that they will no longer be used as scapegoats and excuses for poor law enforcement.

The Federation that consists of the motorcyclephilippines.com web site, the Philippine Scooter Federation, The Motorcycle Advocates of the Philippines, The National Racing Association, the Motorcycle Riders Course and hundreds of other clubs and federations has all the top people and experts in every aspect of motorcycling at their disposal and has made it very clear that they are ready and willing to do everything they can to assist the government at every level.

Obviously the MCPF has made its presence felt as the proposed backride ban and the painted helmet law have already been withdrawn.

A few weeks ago the Office of the President requested the MCPF to draft a motorcycle usage incentive policy for the country. When the riders gathered at Quezon Memorial the staff of Quezon City Councellor Ariel Inton met with the riders and MCPF directors to sign an agreement of cooperation and recently Senator Richard Gordon agreed to work with the MCPF on anything that effects motorcycling.

Directors of the MCPF and presidents of motorcycle clubs are due to meet with Mayor Fernando of Marikina in the next few days.

Click the following to view images of the protest rally:
Images from Alvin Villasanta.
Images from Jake Swann.
Images from Frank Woolf.