Like-minded individuals

A few days ago, I attended a friend’s event in Makati where a mix of mountain bikers, weekend warriors, hardcore bikers and bike commuters were present. I made my way through the crowd and found some familiar faces. We started discussing how differently we viewed transportation in and around Manila. Ever since I started riding my bike, I rarely take public transportation if I can avoid it. It was only recently that I took the MRT again. The long lines, cramped cars, and the non-intuitive directions left me feeling disoriented. Granted, there was a welcome change: no longer did entering the ladies’ carriage feel like a stampede; instead, there were lines on either side of the door to facilitate entering and exiting.

Daily passengers may laugh at my ignorance. Ganun naman siya talaga ever since eh. How could I have forgotten? Yet it is because I take my bike with me everywhere that I have forgotten. And that I see transportation in Manila from another perspective. When I’m on my bike, I’m in control. I control my speed, the roads I take. When I commute, I am hampered by my lack of decisions. I get dropped off because this is what the jeep/fx/bus/MRT dictates. I am at the mercy of my fellow passengers who dictate the pace of the travel. I am at the mercy of my pocket, which decides if I shall commute or say, screw it, let’s just take the cab.

On the bike, the possibilities are endless. I could choose to do a u-turn, take the flyover or take the pedestrian overpass. I could stop at the first sari-sari store and get my pan de coco fix or buy pina or buko from the street vendors when it gets extra hot.

This is no advocacy of mine. This is my choice. As much as I want to see people drive less and bike more, I know there’s a certain level of risk-taking and badassery needed to bike here. Our roads are not built for bikers, an urban planner would say. Yet in these streets, daily bike commuters would say screw the rules and do exactly what these urban planners wish for city streets: sharing the road. We just don’t know that we’re doing it.

 Eventually, the conversation topics shifted as the night wore on. I used to think I was alone in ranting and raving about bike commuting in Manila. Lately I’ve seen that like-minded individuals are now easier to find.