Tricycle

Actual posting date Friday Feb. 15, 2013.

New readers should probably scroll back and read a few previous postings.

Motorcycle-sidecar "tricycles" are not unique to the Philippines, but the sheer numbers of them, and the percentage they make up of general traffic (at least in this area) must surely be considered a phenomenon.  This combination is the "workhorse" of transportation because of the extreme thriftiness,  mechanical simplicity and dependability provided for the amount of transportation accomplished.  Gas prices here are U.S. equivalent of more than $5.70 so "fuel sipping" vehicles are a must.
 The sidecars I've seen (manymanymany) are hand-fabbed in small welding shops mostly. Some shops reach an eventual output of hundreds of units - certainly jigs and fixtures are used to speed up the building process and keep the product uniform.  I observe some differences in the body-shape of the majority of sidecars  around my immediate area (Tibiao and Culasi) and the sidecars around San Jose (60 km from here, the Provincial Capitol) which you'll see in my photos. These differences I gather are the "signature" shapes of two different manufacturing shops.  The basic framework is welded from 1/4- inch to 3/8 inch diameter steel rod (often "re-bar") and then covered with spot-welded galvanized steel sheeting, (it's called aircraft-type construction) resulting in a product which is sturdy and very professional looking and quite sleekly streamlined.  Well, too much typescript already, I'll let the photos start speaking for themselves.

This tricycle is one we rode the approx. 2 km to Tibiao Municipal Market one

Saturday morning.  The sleek "bullet train" front design is typical of most sidecars

around here.  The roof-projection over the bike is typical of  nearly all - it often

has a plastic windshield hanging in front of the driver.  Passenger fares are flat-

rate, set by the local council (or whoever's in charge).  Around here the fare is

8 pesos which equals 20-cents  U.S.  It's 10 pesos in San Jose.

These units on the street in San Jose are boxier-looking but still well finished.

All are officially numbered; various permits  are posted on windshields.  Many

are nicknamed and "themed" as with jeepneys.  Note Bugs Bunny inside British

 Innovator.  I nearly always ride facing backwards - it's hard for me to scrunch

 inside thru the right "door."  Bikes are tiny - 155cc is largest and some are only

 100cc.  I have not yet seen ANY motorcycle larger than 155cc in the Philippines.

There seem to be thousands of tricycles around San Jose - "thicker than  flies

 on a feedlot."  Many districts now have rules requiring passengers to be in-

side the vehicle or on the bike-seat.  Some places have restricted them to

outside of "downtown," Iloilo certainly has and it appears (from TV traffic

news-casts) that Manila has restrictions, too.  This, for safety reasons.

Two riders behind the driver is typical; sometimes, the back seat gets jammed

with 4 and not unusual for the tiny front seat to have 3. This load is pretty

 "tame,"as there are no standees or roof-riders.

In our area students ride half-fare, and the "rules" only apply in "Tibiao Proper"

(as Main Part of the District is called).  Kids will be kids, and at half-fare there

 will at times be 10 or 11 people including standees and roof riders.
By the way, top speed is about 30 mph and they usually only go 20- 25,
but slower when loaded heavily. (LOW engine-power)

All kinds - and lots OF - cargo goes on tricycles.  Part of this load of lumber

we received is already off.  I WISH I could get a photo of 35-foot bamboo

bundled and hauled with point-ends dragging, on a tricycle.  Common 2

 months ago, current "shortage" of bamboo makes it harder to find one.

I kept seeing this SAME pig being chauffeured on a tricycle.  PIGS and

other livestock on a trike, not unusual - BUT it's usually a one-way trip,

ya know what I mean? Also, he's BIG, about 300 pounds.

So I wondered what was up with him.

It turned out he's the highly regarded "Poppa Pig" for this area; he

finishes his day's work with a big smile.

  I could include lots more photos - but these are a fair representation.  Almost for sure I'll be putting some "miscellaneous" tricycle photos up at times, just like I really need already to include a couple more "JEEPNEY" photos I've been lucky enough to catch.  I use a fairly simple "snapshot" electronic camera, and a lot of the GOOD photos would be vehicles in motion if I could catch them.  My shutter-"click" is about 1/2 second after I push the button so I'm still mastering the timing.  

   Tricycles and jeepneys alike are frequently piled high with people and cargo;  some tricycle photos I've missed might remind you of the 3rd-world "donkey or burro" photo, where you can hardly see the beast because it's so covered up with baskets, or firewood, or whatever.  If I can just swing the camera fast enough I'll try for a few.

  Looks like this will be posted overnight-Thursday for you USA-ers - Hope you all have a blessed Friday and wonderful weekend.

Tim and Bernadette Larson,  Philippines