After months of strict community quarantine to curb the coronavirus pandemic, the government decided to relax the lockdowns and gradually resume public transportation. Yet even as the economy is slowly reopening, mobility remains a challenge.
According to the Move As One Coalition, a group of transport experts and advocates, at least 4.98 million trips will be needed to fully accommodate daily commuters in areas under the general community quarantine (GCQ). To observe of social distancing measures, commuters must take their chances in hailing half full PUVs, of which only a reduced number were allowed back on the road. Add to that the one to two hours of added travel time and the heavy traffic congestion due to the increased use of private vehicles.
Meanwhile, reports from the Philippine News Agency (PNA) says that due to the need to enforce social distancing, trains accommodated only almost 100,000 daily, far from its original capacity of 1.2 million passengers. This number further decreased since MRT-3 will shut down operation.
For those struggling in public transportation and seeking ways to avoid crowded spaces, a motorcycle is the perfect partner in the ‘new normal.’ This reliable two-wheeled mode of transportation consumes less fuel, produce lower emissions, are more affordable. Motorcycles also have a cheaper maintenance cost, so owning one is a practical and wise investment especially during difficult times like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before the pandemic, motorcycles have been the preferred mode of transportation for millions of commuters seeking a way out of traffic and lessening their time spent on the road. Nowadays, motorcycles are having a bigger role in solving mobility concerns, given the current state of public transportation.
For rider Angela Alfonso, owner of a Honda Genio, motorcycles are more mobile and maneuverable, allowing her to reach the destination faster. Gone are the days when she used to rush to find a ride home and bear the pains of heavy traffic. Having a motorcycle helped her go to work and get home quicker. And because she rides solo, contact with another person is avoided, thus observing social distancing.
“I feel safer and more comfortable riding my Honda Genio since I don’t have to worry about getting ill because of the virus exposed in crowds and I get to ride solo,” Alfonso said.
The all-new Honda Genio is one of the latest motorcycles from Honda Philippines Inc. (HPI), the no. 1 motorcycle manufacturer in the Philippines. With its “ONE DREAM” campaign, Honda also aims to help provide Filipinos the joy of mobility, especially amid the current global health crisis.
For more details about Honda’s wide array of motorcycles, products, and promos, visit www.hondaph.com and follow the Facebook page, Honda Philippines, Inc. and Instagram, @hondaph_mc.
