Tricycles Philippines. Trikes.

Tricycles in the Philippines

Tricycles in the Philippines

On the island of Luzon, most tricycles (or trikes) consist of a motorcycle with a sidecar of sorts attached on its right side. The motorcycle can be used independently by simply removing 3 or 4 bolts.
A ride can cost from 8 pesos and up. For a short trip of maybe 1/2 kilometer it may cost 8 pesos.
A ride from out apartment to Angeles Hospital Foundation (AUF) may cost about 200 pesos each way.
At time of this writing the exchange rate is about 42 pesos to a US dollar.

Riding in a Tricycle

My wife and me riding in a tricycle. She narrates our trip.

I am 5' 8" tall and getting into a sidecar is a process of bending, ducking, and contorting oneself into it and onto the bench seat. The seat holds 2 passengers. Some sidecars are roomier than others. Sometimes the two passenger are squished together and in others there is ample room to sit fairly comfortably.

A neighbor of ours, another US citizen, said that he could not fit into tricycle sidecars or jeepneys. He was about 6'2" and probably weighed about 200 pounds. Eventually he purchased a new tricycle to transport his family of four. He rides on the motorcycle and the family rides in the sidecar.

If a sidecar is just too small one may opt to sit sidesaddle behind the driver. There is a roof over the driver and the passengers behind him. Be sure that your head will not hit the roof when you are seated. If the roof is too low, when the trike hits a bump, your head will hit one of the steel bars supporting the roof. If three is not about 4 or 5 inches clearance over your head you are in for trouble when the driver hits bumps too fast. Often two people will sit behind the driver.

Some tricycles have sidecars which feature a forward facing bench and a rear facing bench. These can carry up to 7 adults at one time, 4 in the sidecar and 3 behind the driver.

If you are taking a tricycle from a "tricycle station" and you want to pay the lowest fare, you will need to board it and wait until more passengers come and fill it up.
If you want the tricycle exclusively for you and yours just tell the driver you want a "special". He will charge a little extra and depart promptly for your destination.

The advantage of tricycles is that they are almost everywhere. If the area has no taxi service there will always be tricycles. They sure beat walking in the hot sun.

Often one may ride a trike a few blocks to where one may then climb aboard a passing jeepney. Just raise your hand and they will stop like a taxi (if they are not already full).

While living in Manila we often used trikes to go several blocks to the nearest grocery store. On several occasions we rode them to go much farther. Biggest disadvantage of riding trikes is the proximity to vehicle exhaust. See my article about air pollution in the Philippines. I do not know how anyone survives driving these trikes for very many years. Many trike drivers will follow directly behind and close to smoke belching vehicles.

I purchased motorcycle type masks to wear when riding on tricycles. They are cloth with straps featuring a velcro closure behind 

Manners when riding tricycles

Wait patiently in line if you are boarding at a tricycle station. If you don't know which line to get in just ask anyone; most people will be pleased to assist you.

Always make room for others, slide over. Prepare to be squished if you are a large person. If you sit behind the driver only sit side-saddle with your feet extending to the left of the driver and hang on.

Don't complain if you must wait up to 15 minutes for the tricycle to fill up. If you don't want to wait ask for a "special" and pay the slightly higher fare.

Tricycles are Dangerous

The most dangerous ride we ever took was to Angeles University Foundation Hospital (AUF.) Our daughter was ill, and we felt we needed to take her to the emergency that night. It was dark and raining. We called our "driver" who was usually on call for us.
He is a safe driver, but, on a rain slick two lane rural road in the country with no street lights it is dangerous no matter who is driving. Well, not long after we entered the road a large tractor trailer passed us. It was traveling a lot faster than us. I was sitting sidesaddle (as is the custom) behind the driver. My wife and child were sitting inside the side car. When the truck passed us I figured it missed my legs by 3 or 4 feet.
If you will be living here for any length of time, try to find someone who will be willing to drive you in a car or van if you call them in an emergency.

Tricycles on Luzon. Motorelas on Mindanao.

Tricycles come in many varieties. There are different configurations in different parts of the country. For example, some tricycles in Cagayan de Oro (CDO,) on the Southern island of Mindanao, look like the one in the image below. The motorcycle is inside and the driver sits in the center of the trike and shares the same roof as the passengers.

Typical motorela in Cagayan de Oro, on Mindanao.

The ones I rode in CDO had a bench on each side and would seat about 6 adults. I prefer this type of trike. More headroom and better protection from the elements.

Used tricycles can be purchased for about 20,000 Pesos. New ones may cost up to about 60,000 Pesos.

Compare riding in tricycles to riding in jeepneys.

Riding in trains in the Philippines.

If you are considering buying real estate in the Philippines.


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Please check back for more information about tricycles and motorelas in the Philippines. This article last updated June 4 2022.