Public Transportation

To get around the city there are various modes of transportation. Some are similiar to Canada but others are unique to the Philippines. Obviously they have buses and taxis but here are a few things you don't see in Canada:















Pedicab:

I've seen pedicabs (or rickshaws as they're called elsewhere) even in Vancouver during the Summertime but not like this. The configuration is a peddle bike (simple, without gears) and an attached side car. This form of transportation is generally used down side streets or neighbourhood to neighbourhood transports. Never for long distances.

Fares for these are generally agreed on before the ride starts.



















Tricycle:

Tricycles are motorbikes with sidecar carrying up to 6 passengers, sometimes even more. I've been in one of these and we were able to squeeze 8 passengers plus the driver. It's not comfortable but it is possible (see the picture below).


















One driver, two passengers behind him plus six squeezed into the side car (three in the front seat of the side car and three in the back seat).

Tricycles usually cost a flat fare per passenger, depending on the distance, mostly something about 5 Peso per ride (about 11 cents CAD).




















There are two 'Skytrain-like' rapid train transports here called MRT and LRT. To date I haven't had a chance to ride them. From what I heard they're fast and get you where you want to go but they're hot (no aircon) and overly crowded. I stand taller than most Filipinos here so being squeezed together in a hot and sweaty mess of human bodies wouldn't bother me as much as - say - someone short with their face in another traveller's armpit. Ignoring the smells of armpit I hope to take this one day. I've taken the trains in other Asian countries but never in my own home country of the Philippines (mostly because we have cars and drivers so the need to take the train has never come up!).

The fares range from 10 to 15 pesos per ride ( 22 to 33 cents CAD).















I've saved the best to last... Ladies and gentlemen I give you the Jeepney!

Here's a brief history:

When American troops began to leave the Philippines at the end of World War II, hundreds of surplus jeeps were sold or given to local Filipinos.














Locals stripped down the jeeps to accommodate several passengers, added metal roofs for shade, and decorated the vehicles with vibrant colors and bright chrome hood ornaments. The jeepney rapidly emerged as a popular and creative way to reestablish inexpensive public transportation, which had been virtually destroyed during World War II.

Jeepney fares generally cost you 7 pesos.

Like the Tricyle, there seems to be no limit to the number of people you can squeeze in, on and around these things. I've included these two photos to illustrate the point:


Look! The whole town on one jeepney!
























Imagine if I imported a couple dozen jeepneys into Canada, I could put moving companies out of business. Who needs a moving van when you have this!