Student's Outlet

I saw this post in my old blog and I would like to repost this because this is still true for me.

Second to jeeps, tricycles are one of the most famous mode of transportation here in the Philippines. Covering an entire village, transporting you from your current location to your chosen destination but ofcourse only within their boundaries only at small costs, mostly (depending on the driver) 8 pesos as the base price for each head.

But, above all those praise, I really do hate tricycle drivers and here are some of my reasons:

• Wherever I see them or be with them along the road, they do drive like they own the road. They appear anywhere. They go overboard, passing through sidewalks and turning anywhere they want.
• If it’s traffic, they cut anywhere, ANYWHERE (just to be in front of everyone) even though they cause more traffic with the other flow. They overtake you thinking that they could still pass through.
• They drive on main highways like in the Elliptical road, North Avenue or sometimes in Quezon Avenue. What’s even worse is that they drive on the fast/overtake lane (the left most lane).
• They stuff people inside. It’s way too dangerous to do that. Normally, it’s takes 3 people per ride. (2 inside and one at the back of the driver).
• Some drivers don’t know how to use hand signal, turning right nor turning left.
• I’m wondering, do tricycle drivers have license?
• Sometimes, they do overcharge. In my experience taking an advantage that I went home late (aroung 8:30 pm) and there are two tricycles left and the other one is when it was raining hard. When they asked my destination, they automatically told me, “25 pesos na ha, ikaw na kasi ang huling pasahero” (but the regular fee is only 15 pesos). Even though I told them that I am still a student, they still charged me with their regular rate.

A while ago, when I fetched my sister at Philicoa and went home, I was following a tricycle.. and on an intersection, which has an angle of inclination, we stopped because of the traffic. Suddenly, because of the weights of the 6 passengers in it, it began, to slowly slide down the slope towards me then i honked once, the driver reacted immediately then hold his brake down. Few seconds later, someone shouted putang ina mo! (about thrice) and i was shocked for a moment. I felt a sudden trembling fear building up inside me again. One passenger went down the tricycle posing and laughing that he wants to have a fight. My sister turned down the volume of our stereo, because I, myself, am not sure why they said those words. Then we heard another passenger shouted Gago! Putang Ina mo! I was about to roll down the windows but it’s already a go for me, thatI have to move forward. My hands and knees are shaking. I’m glad it was still traffic that I could calm down at least. Did I do something again? Is there something wrong with what i’ve done? Please, explain it to me.

• I guess the real problem lies in the attitude of the tricycle drivers.