Are habal-habals worth the risk?

Why they're popular. The ability to maneuver through unbearable traffic and the ability to transport passengers to their destinations in a shorter span of time are two reasons for the surge of  habal-habals. Commuters, especially when pressed with time, are normally left without a choice but to take the habal-habal.  These motorcycles-for-hire are well in-demand not just in the mountain areas but even in city centers. However, are habal-habals truly worth the risk?

Outrageously expensive. For one, it was learned that most habal-habal drivers are not equipped with the proper traffic gear, thus increasing the risks of injury or death in case of untoward incidents. If they have no gear of their own, how do we expect them to provide gear for their passengers? Another concern is most of these drivers have not been trained on traffic rules. Finally, most of them reportedly charge their passengers outrageously high rates. From Labangon to the IT Park, for example, some habal-habal drivers charge passengers up to P200 per trip, according to an EAR informer.