TRAFFIC, many other passengers, rush hour are just some of the factors that led a female rider to shift from commuting to using her own motorcycle to get to work.
Britney Ann Yu, a 22-year-old researcher from the University of the Philippines Cebu, says that using a motorcycle is more convenient and it saves her time and money.
Before, when she was still commuting, it took her more than 40 minutes to arrive at her workplace in Lahug from barangay Sapangdaku in upland Cebu City.
Now, she only spends 20 minutes traveling.
"If magmotor man gud ko lahos-lahos na ang pagsakay, convenient lang gyud generally," Yu told SunStar Cebu Saturday, April 1, 2023, adding that she can travel without worrying about the availability of the public transportation when returning home.
(The trip is smoother when I ride motorcycle, generally, it is more convenient).
Also, she now only spends P120 for the gas of her motorcycle, which will last for four days, as opposed to P140 for her two-way trip per day.
Though aware of the risks it poses, she said that she has become more extra careful when plying the roads in the metro that is congested with thousands of other motorists.
Though aware of the risks, she said that she had increased her level of caution when driving on the metro's congested roads, which are shared by thousands of other motorists.
Yu is just one of the more than one million motorcycle owners in the Central Visayas, according to the latest estimation by the Land Transportation Office (LTO 7).
Based on the data given by the LTO, the number of motorcycles in the region has drastically increased in the last decade.
The total number of motorcycles increased from 62,843 in 2010 to 1,233,253 in 2020, a rise of 1862 percent over the period of ten years.
Starting with the cumulative motorcycle count in 2010, which is at 62,843, it grew to 1,233,253 units in 2020—and that is a 1862 percent increase in the course of 10 years.
"Well, given that motorcycles are convenient and a cheap means of transportation, and that motorcycle dealers offer monthly installments, that is one of the reasons we are looking why more and more people are wanting to own a motorcycle," said Victor Caindec, LTO7 director, told SunStar Cebu on Friday, March 31, 2023.
In addition, Caindec notes that the traffic in Metro Cebu is a contributing factor in the rise in motorcycle ownership.
"Knowing that we are not adding roads, but automobiles," he added.
He also emphasized that parking a motorcycle is easier than a 4-wheeled vehicle.
The other numbers in the 10-year cumulative motorcycle count in the region are as follows: 138,818 in 2011; 218,746 in 2012; 312,327 in 2013; 415,624 in 2014; 538,637 in 2015; 666,514 in 2016; 801,472 in 2017; 940,861 in 2018; and reached the million mark in 2019 at 1,129,141.
Asked if the cumulative number of motorcycle units for 2021 and 2022, though they do not have the data, he said, with the restrictions, they are estimating at stagnant numbers or probably just a slight increase.
When asked about the total number of motorcycle units for 2021 and 2022, Caindec responded that due to the restrictions, they are estimating at stagnant numbers or probably just a slight increase.
"We are looking at 1.3 to 1.4 million motorcycles now in the region, considering the pandemic where most of the businesses were down," the LTO 7 chief said
Caindec emphasized that in region 7, more than half of the vehicles that are running on the roads are motorcycles.
In total, 68 percent of the vehicles in the region are motorcycles, followed by utility vehicles at 18 percent, cars at seven percent, sports utility vehicles with four percent, and trucks also at four percent. (KJF)