An estimated number of 1500 (almost 800 focused at the NLEX northbound destination, 400 were at the other end of NLEX anticipating the riders from Manila, almost 200 targeted SLEX, and more than a 100 darted through Coastal) riders from different regions stormed the expressways as a show of protest against the illegal freeways ban.
At around 10 in the morning last February 25, almost a thousand riders rallied to the NLEX Balintawak tollgates in an attempt to use the expressways. Using a two-line staggered formation, club and individual riders (some, from the provinces) were stopped by the NLEX security and spokespersons even before they reached the booths.
In an attempt to clear the issue, NLEX spokespersons stated that sub400 bikes cannot be allowed in the freeways because of an old TRB ruling. The Freedom Riders rebuked the claim and showed a certified true copy of the SC decision which voids the ban. The spokespersons stalled the conversation and deviated to other issues such as safety of the expressway users and that bikers are more prone to accidents in the freeway. When they were asked for statistics, they hesitatingly said they don’t have any.
The NLEX spokespersons went back to the old and obsolete freeways rule and even showed a TRB memo. The Freedom Riders then asked, if their presence in the freeways was highly illegal, why couldn’t the NLEX authorities simply issue them a traffic ticket? The spokespersons were not able to give a straight answer.
There were two options given to the NLEX personnel: give access to the Freedom Riders or their lane would be blocked until they give in. After almost two hours, the Freedom Riders decided that it had been too long a wait that they went straight to the booth ahead. The NLEX security men blocked the Freedom Riders’ lane, so the rest from back had to swerve to another booth. The NLEX security men again blocked the next booth and the riders gave the same response. They swerved to the next two booths until the Freedom Riders have occupied five lanes.
Tension arose when the NLEX security men resorted to different forms of harassment. A Freedom Rider was pushed towards the pillars of a toll booth while his bike was running. He was thrown to the street and his bike was badly beaten. The security men brandished their shotguns and rifles at the Freedom Riders in an attempt to scare them away. There were pushing and high voices as the Freedom Riders stood their ground and the NLEX security men continued to harass the front liners.
The Freedom Riders stayed amidst the harassment, the heat, the hunger and thirst. One ironic turnaround was when a truck (driver) decided to ram against the bikes blocking his lane. The riders were not pleased but they simply talked with the driver and asked him to wait a little longer.
As more armed men arrived and harassment continued, the MCPF directors decided that it would be unsafe for the Freedom Riders to stay. They regrouped in Quezon Memorial Circle and discussed their next move.
The expressway authorities can expect more actions from the Freedom Riders as long as they hold their illegal sub400 ban.
ride report by majongero
nakaka-suya ang kakulitan nyo
mag-bus na lang nga kayo para mas safe. masyado kayong excited dumaan d naman kaya ng bike nyo.
masyado pa nga kayong bagito sa pag-momotor.
mahiya naman kayo sa mga pinag-gagawa nyo. may freedom ride pa kayong nalalaman pero pagdating sa city d naman marunong tumingin ng kulay ng traffic lights. tapos regular na kalsada ginagawa nyong karerahan. sino ba naman matutuwa sa ginagawa nyo? para kayong mga ulol na kahapon lang natuto mag-motor tapos ngayon gusto na dumaan ng hi-way. pagt-tyagaan nyo na lang yang macapagal kasi yan lang talaga ang pwedeng daanan ng mga u-bone nyo. benta nyo na lang motor nyo tapos mag-ipon kayo pang dag-dag sa 400cc na motor.
Kanya kanyang gawa nalang, tama na ang putak. Kung sinong nag-aakalang magaling, ipakita nyo na lang ang galing nyo. Puro kayo satsat.
ANG KUKULIT KASE EH, SABI NG BUMILI NA LANG NG BIGBIKE KUNG TALAGANG GUSTO DUMAAN NG EXPRESSWAY.
KAHIT ANO GAWIN NYO DI TALAGA KAYO PADADAANIN DUN KAHIT MAGRALLY PA KAYO SA MALACAÑANG
WAG NYO NAMAN BURAOTIN ANG MGA EXPRESSWAYS NATIN
isipin nyo na lang kung makapasok mga kakngkarot na naka ubone sa nlex e hi araw-araw andaming patay na miyembro ng FR… yung nga mga naka malaking motor muntikan madisgrasya e mga naka sakay pa kaya sa walis tingting…
Hwag na kayo mag away mga bro, malapit nang ma BAN lahat ng 2-wheels sa NLEX at SLEX!
Can you pls help me to complete my research on motorcycles, what standard speed should possess a motorcycle is..how will it take long on the road and how to distinguish the electronic bikes to motorcyles..
thanks..
Elisa, I suggest bumili ka ng bigbike 400cc or above ang engine displacement para makaaccess ka ng Xpressway pagbumili ka ng scooter na 70cc sa subdivision mo na lng gamitin hwag mo ng ipasok sa mga national road baka madisgrasya ka pa sa bagal.
askal,
bigyan mo si Elisa ng pambili, lol
ang tagal nman matapos ng photo gallery… kailan ba yung soonest posible time na yan????????
atat,
there are no plans yet to put the gallery online.
it’s been the root of almost all of MCP’s server woes, so until we determine what the problem is or if we ever can resolve it, it will remain closed.
thanks po=) atat lng hehehehe…
Hindi talaga pwede dumaan kasi maliliit lang bike ninyo, kaya marami naaaksedente kasi sa kakulitan ninyo, kahit d2 sa Canada di pwede, magkaisa n lang para lhat maging maayos
mga underbones ipang-negosyo nyo na lang yang motor nyo para maka-ipon kayo ng pang-bili ng bigbikes nyo bwahahaha!!!!
mag-5-6 na lang kayo sa mga palengke tapos mag-suot kayo ng thurban para walang huli…
anyways, ur bikes are built for that sole purpose only… =)
(Hwag na kayo mag away mga bro, malapit nang ma BAN lahat ng 2-wheels sa NLEX at SLEX!)- Fatnlo
ULOL!!!!!!
kanino mo naman narinig yang balitang yan?
sa naglalako ng fishball sa may kanto nyo?
umusbong lang yang balitang yan galing sa mga ingit na naka-underbone na d maka-daan ng E.W.
GODDAMN THOSE BIKERS!!!
akala mo kung mga sino.
nakitang aatras ka, NAKA HAZARD KA NA, aba!
irrev motor nila tapos sabayan nila ng mga
pa banking-banking
(AMPUTAH MAN KUNG ANO TAWAG NILA DUN SA STUPID TRICK NA YAN!)
BIKERS ARE STUPID PEOPLE!!!
ANG MABUTI NIYONG GAWIN, GAWAN NIYO NG TRICYCLE
YAN MOTOR NIYO!!!
BUTI PA MA BAN YAN SA EXPRESSWAYS! KAHIT SAAN KALSADA..
palibhasa mura. kht ndi marunong magbasa ng signs nakakabili. halata mo nmn na pinadaan sa fixer yung pagkuha ng lisensya kasi halatang di mga nagseminar!!!
ONE THING:
meron gagong biker na naghamon ng drag race sa Macapagal last week kalaban isang Vios, yung nag
start na, yung amputang ang tangang nagmomotor
kinain yung kalsada ng vios, thinking that
his stupid motorcycle is faster than a car,
ayun, sa ilalim siya ng Vios napunta…
you know what happend..
LESSON:
bikers=stupid
underbone?! amp na term na nmn yan!!!
hahahaha.. oo, pag naaksidente ka,
ang bone mo, under sa hukay..
TO ALL BIKERS:
“isang bato lang ang katapat mo..”
bakit ba gustong-gusto niyong ng EX eh mas matrapik pa dun kesa service road nyahahaha. seriously ubones and scooters should not be allowed at the EXs for a very simple reason DANGEROUS period!
para dun sa nag post ng I hate bikers: If you hate bikes, why are you browsing at Motorcycle Philippine’s Web site? a website for the Philippine motorcycle community, ano ba kotse mo baka mas mahal pa yung price nung mga bikes namin. At sana lang naman wag ka matyempong mag angas sa mga group riders, kasi iniisip ko palang naaawa na ko sayo.
i think yung mga small bikes bawal sa expressway… di kasi sila marunong sumunod sa traffic rules… sila ang nagdadala ng aksidente sa daan lalo na sa EDSA!
I also have a bike but it’s a big bike (more than 500cc)… eh kami nga na nakabig bike super ingat na sa daan mas mayabang pa sa mga big bikes… ang pagba-bike kasi di sa yabang sa yan sa motor ang pinag-uusapan… at ang talagang magagaling mag-bike di pumapatol sa mga petty races… it’s totally out of our league… pag-aralan nyo muna ang pagiging responsible bikers kung di nyo yun matututunan don’t dream of cruisin’ the expressway…
bumili na lang kayo ng big bike kung wala kayong pamili wag na kayong magmotor… kung gano kanipis ang gulong nyo ganun din kanipis ang buhay nyo
i know its a bit late for me to comment on this issue but i have read it just recently…. well scooters and motorcycles which do not have a 400cc engine should be banned in using the NLEX or SLEX. This is for the driver’s safety and other motorists as well. i hope i didnt offend any riders here. i am a rider myself but could not afford to buy a 400cc powered motorcycle.
mitanica
everyone’s views are welcome here. you may have differing views but they are respected nevertheless.
everyones have a point of view but as the NLEX spokespersons stated that sub400 bikes cannot be allowed in the freeways because of an old TRB ruling. kaya wag na nating ipagpilitan yung kagustuhan natin na makapag cruise dyan sa NLEX at SLEX kasi prone talaga yang mga UBone sa highway ni ako nga mismo merong ring bigbike madalang rin akong dumaan sa highway eh sa mga Ubone pa kaya!!! bili muna kayo ng bigbike saka nyo pag isipang dumaan dyan sa Ex Way!!1
Just my 2 cents comment
I think 400cc or above should be the point.
In many countries I have seen motorcycle which can reach 80 to 130km/h are allowed to get highways (125cc and above) but traffic rules are not a joke and everybody respect them.
The point is, it will be dangerous to let some guys with potential slow bike to get SLEX or NLEX, specially wearing short and sleepers.
I even don’t speak about overweighted bike carrying 3-4 persons.
Plus I can say many guys with underbones or scooter are totally careless.
I’m riding a 1200cc and sometines driving a car and I can see that everyday. Nobody is really respecting basic traffic rules.
I don’t say everybody is irresponsible but look around and tell me I’m wrong
So sorry guys, I guess nobody want to see the same mess on the highways.
I agree with Mika 100%. I have a couple of big bikes and a small bike for the local market etc.. Well said when the statement of 3-4 persons on a small bike. Most of the passengers are infants that have no choice as the irresponsible parents put them on with total disregard to there safety.
My primary means of transportation is a SUV and honestly i don’t want to see scooters on the highways. To be honest i am really getting tired of sitting at a red light and having a scooter to squeeze between by vehicle and the one beside me to only have them hit my truck and cause damage. That is a prime example to the irresponsible riders that totally diregard the road rules and respect to others property.
It all has to start with the police. They have to set the example by respecting the traffic laws first and then implement the road laws and rules to make the roads safe for everyone.
Can anyone tell me why if you ride a scooter that you should not have to wear safety gear versues riding a big bike. I would say 85-90% that ride small bikes carry there helmet on there arms until they have to put it on because of the police. Prime example there as to why they want to discriminate against bike riders on the highways.
Some riders will not like my comments and the ones that don’t you are the ones that are violating the road rules and not using your safety gear.