With This Traffic, Is it Time You Finally Try a Motorcycle Taxi?

(SPOT.ph) Metro Manila has a traffic problem. This is not new.

However, what is new is the presence of motorcycle ride-hailing apps, even if it feels like they've been here forever. In fact, Angkas and JoyRide didn’t enter the Philippine market until 2016 and 2019, respectively.

Meanwhile, Grab Philippines’ latest acquisition MOVE IT is also hoping to make waves with commuters in a bid to strengthen its position in the transportation industry through motorcycle taxis.

Risking dramatics, it has changed passengers' lives in one way or another. Take, for example, Joanne Arcilla, who has been riding motorcycle taxis since she was in senior high school. She is a working adult now but still swears by the service at her nth use.

“I made the switch to Angkas because it's a cheaper alternative to my previous transportation choices, and my travel time gets halved or even more,” Arcilla said. “Another plus is that getting your booking accepted through Angkas and JoyRide is also way faster than in Grab.”

“I'd recommend it to students or working adults who are tired of waking up extra one or two hours early because they have to take traffic or rush hour into account,” Arcilla added. “Motorcycle ride-hailing apps save you both money and time—both of which you could spend into more productive things.”

Of the 13.5 million population in Metro Manila, only three million have Angkas downloaded. No doubt the fate of most is still in the hands of mass public transportation, but why aren't more commuters choosing to hail a motorcycle taxi, especially if we are to take in Arcilla's rave review?

The bad rap

Motorcycles suffer from a bad reputation. Just ask anyone who’s never tried it before.

Ticia Almazan has never ridden a motorcycle, but she’s often on the road in her own car. From the driver’s seat, she's become witness to a barrage of motorcycles zooming past her without any regard for others.

“Witnessing the speed, and at times recklessness, of motor bikers makes me more averse to being on the vehicle,” Almazan told Spot.ph. However, some work-related events would require her to book a Grab, and when no one would pick up, Almazan “would always rather choose to be late than risk getting on an Angkas.”

This fear is not baseless. According to a Metro Manila Accident Recording and Analysis System (MMARSS) report, there were 22,924 motorcycle accidents in Metro Manila in 2021. Of that total, 12,110 of them resulted in non-fatal injuries, while 264 were fatal. The numbers are only getting higher on these post-pandemic streets.

Jan Maala was only getting the hang of riding motorcycle taxis until a minor accident struck in his third month. It wasn’t because of a careless driver like one might think—it was from a slippery road.  

“The Angkas I was riding accidentally fell down,” Maala told Spot.ph. “Fortunately, I only got minor injuries but it was a really traumatic experience.”

Also read: Angkas Drivers to Get 100% of Fares on National Heroes Day

Knowing the facts

Prior to the accident, Maala expressed feeling “really safe” on a daily basis while onboard the motorcycle, mostly because he did his research. He found that Angkas bikers are screened and required to attend seminars on road safety, proper hygiene, and customer service as per the Department of Transportation’s conditions. Simply put, Maala found comfort in the fact that Angkas is just as regulated as other forms of public transportation.

Contrast this experience to Almazan’s, who grew up seeing motorcycle accidents on the news. It’s important to note that most people aren’t opposed to the service, but the vehicle itself. That said, being informed is one way to fight rampant misconceptions on motorcycle services.

“I feel that because all I've been exposed to are facts about the danger of motors, I need to be presented with evidence and statistics that testify to its safety,” Almazan said. “It would help for infographics or content containing this data to be circulated.”

The statistic Almazan is after, and what Maala read, is likely this: Angkas has a current safety record of 99.997%—even safer than condoms, the company would joke.  

However, the terms and conditions of using Angkas is explicit in its limitations of liability, should one get into a fatal or non-fatal accident: “By using the app, you acknowledge and agree that the entire risk arising out of your use of the service remains solely and absolutely with you and you shall have no recourse whatsoever to the company.”

Also read: Angkas New Normal: No More Bring Your Own Helmets, Barriers

The case of sex and money

As Arcilla has established, Angkas and JoyRide are fast and convenient. The price works for someone fresh into employment, too.

However, its fares are still no match to other types of public transportation. Angkas’ base fare for the first two kilometers is at P50—a far cry from the jeepney’s P12, the Metro rail transit’s P13, the public utility vehicle’s P14, and the light rail transit’s P15. Those few extra pesos saved are crucial for a student like Katebelle Ladlad.

Ladlad also brought up another important point that isn’t often talked about enough in ride-hailing services: being a female commuter. Many of her friends have already vouched for the app’s safety, she told Spot.ph, but “there are still isolated cases of people with unpleasant experiences with riders.” To fear for one’s safety on a commute is one thing, but to fear for one’s safety as a woman is another. The hesitation is no longer with the vehicle, but the person in control of it.

Fortunately for passengers, sketchy bikers are still more of an exception than the norm. For Arcilla, the bikers she’s encountered are friendly and “willing to adjust to your needs and preferences during the trip.” This can include taking a different route that one feels safer in or moving at a slower pace.

The final verdict

So, should you give motorcycle taxis like Angkas, JoyRide, and MOVE IT a try?

No one can answer this better than Maala, who has experienced both the good and the bad that comes with the service. Ultimately, he said it depends on what your priority is.

“If your priority is more on safety and if you are not price sensitive, a four-wheel drive is better suited for you. On the other hand, if you are looking for a cheaper and quicker way to get to your destination, you may consider trying motorcycle ride-hailing apps like Angkas.”

That, and if you can stand the foul stench that comes with wearing a public helmet.