Discrimination in the Philippine motorcycle community...

With the growing cost of oil and living expenses in the Philippines, a lot of our fellow countrymen has looked for cheaper ways of getting to work.

A good percentage of our people still look towards public transportation. However, with the growing number of people in the country, having to ply through thousands and thousands of people each day just to get from their homes to their work place is an exhausting experience. And once more, the travel from work to their homes drains the last remainder of energy they have to provide quality time for their families.

Now, with the increase of gasoline prices, a lot of our vehicle owners are looking for alternative means of transportation. Hence, the growth of the motorcycle community.

Over the past few years, the motorcycle population has grown and has given a lot of businesses and manufacturers a source of income on motorcycle sales, parts, accessories and services. This gave a lot of Filipino workers a lot of jobs in the manufacturing plants, distributors and retail stores for motorcycles and accessory shops.

And with the turn of the 20th century, a lot of banks started working with the distributors to make these bikes easier to acquire for Filipinos through financing. About 70-75% of the motorcycles in the streets are sold this way. This has given the Filipinos a cheaper alternative to riding their cars or commuting everyday. In the years that passed, we all enjoyed our freedom on our iron horses. Some use it for their daily commute and some out of mere passion for bikes.

Recently, our freedom has fallen prey to the hands of unscrupulous individuals in the government. And once more, the future of motorcyclists are being played upon by the other agencies that take advantage of our fellow riders and their bikes.

A certain issue regarding new laws was passed by the LTO has rocked our community recently. This is the new law indicating the proper attire and gear for all motorcycle users and the law prohibiting modifications on motorcycles.

We all understand that all bikers have to wear the proper gears when riding. These primarily refer to helmets, shoes and pants. There has been a recent activity where a few people were apprehended for wearing slacks while on their Underbone bikes. Slacks?!? Why would slacks be illegal to these law enforcers when they wear slacks them selves? Not to mention the countless times we have seen them riding unmarked and un-registered bikes without helmets even! Even the PNP motorcycle police wear tights for Christ's sake. So why aren't we allowed to wear slacks on our bikes? Although the LTO pointed out that heavy clothing mainly applies to people on bigbikes, the MMDA and PNP have taken advantage and is abusing these so-called laws on motorcycle gear. There has been reports of some bikes being flagged down because their jackets are not "HEAVY" enough. Seriously, what are these guys up to? Of course, they will let you go with a warning given that you satisfy their "pockets". So what's up with this? A fellow biker called LTO and asked about the "slacks" law and the person on the other line said that there is no such directive. So why are we being flagged down for what we are wearing?

On the other hand, LTO also announced that modifications and accessories can only be used if you obtain a permit or approval from the LTO. Without permits or approvals, you will be flagged down and your license will be confiscated! Then you would have to get it back from the LTO office in East avenue for Php 2,500.00! Who thought of this? And what is the reason that we are no longer allowing riders to improve or enhance their own bikes?

Yes, there are some accessories that are indeed useless and for show only. But a lot of the parts we install do have functions on our bikes. Now, the LTO has put out a directive to apprehend all those who have these modifications whether they be beneficial or not to our motorcycles.

Better shocks for better road handling, better cornering ability with rear sets, better visibility with headlights, better stopping power with bigger brake disks and calipers, better engine performance with oil coolers and camshafts and so on and so forth...

How is this bad with motorcycles?!? Why do they have to dictate our rights to improve our rides?!? That's why manufacturers have the clause, "warranty will be void if you modify such and such". What is the reason for this? Because we change the look of our bikes? Because they can't identify bikes who are stolen? Is this issue the fault of all bikers? So what gives?

Clearly, the law that was passed contains a lot of gray areas and the sharks on the streets are taking advantage of the situation. And this law hasn't even reached the vast majority of our riders. They did not publish not put in a grace period for this law. They just went on the streets, started to flag down motorcyclists who are clueless of this new, so called "law".

Now, with the recent events happening to motorcycle users, a lot of questions have been lingering about it. Why is this happening to motorcycles only? Why are the cars with lowered profiles, large mag wheels, loud rear end pipes and modified engines being allowed on the streets? Why are owner type and passenger jeeps who have all sorts of "bling blings" on their vehicles let go while we are being apprehended for our modifications?

Who gave them the right to demolish our rights to improve our rides while the people on four wheels are allowed to do so?!? Is he even a rider? Does he know anything about motorcycles? How about the LTO officers on the field conducting the checkpoints or shall I say choke points?!? Do they know what is stock and what is not? do they know if the modifications are beneficial to our bikes or not?!? How about the MMDA and PNP who are taking advantage of this and using it as a new means to make "KOTONG" to our fellow bikers? Have they been briefed about this?!? And how come, we have not heard nor seen any official and public information drive on this directive before they even implemented it?!? Aren't we supposed to be given a grace period before this law takes effect? How about the people who have spent countless amounts of money improving their bikes? Will they get their money back for this? What about the stores who sell these parts for a living? Will they have to close down and let go of their workers? For what? Preventing more bike related crimes? Giving LTO more sources of funds? What is this for really?

Honestly, this law is completely discriminating in all aspects because it is intended for people riding bikes only. Why do they put their failure to do their jobs on the shoulders of the innocent bikers? Just because a few bike related crimes happen doesn't mean he can generalize on all of us. That he can put a leash and tell us what we can and cannot do with our bikes. We are citizens of this country and we have rights however, it seems that our rights are being violated by the people who swore to protect them.

And where do we stand now? In the jaws of the people who are taking advantage and using the said "LAW" to dig their hands into our pockets!

So what are we to do now? Just let these sharks feed on our wallets or do we stand up for our rights as motorcycle riders? I call on the latter.

Speak up and let your voices be heard! Let everybody know that our rights are being violated and we are being discriminated upon by people who don't know anything about bikers and their bikes!