10,000 naggers roaring

There are many bible verses that refer to how effective a “nagger” can be. They have been compared to a dripping faucet or leaking roof that keeps calling our attention and won’t let you sleep, someone who breaks down the indifference of a Judge, or someone who can make you choose to go up to the roof and stay there rather than find no peace in the confines of a house in their company. Filipinos call it “Makulit” or being annoyingly persistent. As much as you may dislike, even hate a “Nagger” or “Makulit” person, the fact that you have identified or recognized a person as one, already says that they have affected you and won Round Two. Round One was when you thought you won by ignoring them. You actually lost that round as well.

In a way, government, politicians, or businessmen resemble those who choose to ignore the public because they have other priorities or they want to keep the Status Quo, or don’t want to incur what they think is an unnecessary or unprofitable expense. So they ignore us and force us to “nag.” But there is rarely any power in a “Nagger Of One;” except when the nagger is so persistent he or she goes to a higher authority or to the media. Interestingly the Bible also teaches us that two are better than one and three are even stronger and hard to break or overcome.

So just imagine what will happen when three naggers or a thousand or 10,000 naggers roll into town riding their motorcycles to nag President Rodrigo Duterte, the MMDA, Mr. Manny Pangilinan and Mr. Ramon Ang to read and to listen to the manifesto of motorcycle riders as well as bicycle owners that they should have a dedicated lane on EDSA as well as pass through privilege on the shoulder lanes or a special lane on all toll and expressways in the Philippines! Chances are the President himself might just decide to lead the motorcade through the nearest expressway for a “Joy ride.”

No, this is not an imaginary scenario! A couple of serious Big Bike riders, who have been on the road with PRRD on road trips, recently shared their concern for bikers becoming the highest fatality in Metro Manila roads. So many people are dying in accidents because the government, politicians and businessmen have not recognized the rights of riders and the fact that they are also taxpayers both for income, sales as well as road users tax.

They also shared their observations from road trips abroad on how motorcycles and special lanes have positively changed the movement of employees, riders and businessmen beyond City centers. They have also finally come to realize that the only way to get things done is to harness the sound and fury of the thousands of motorcycle owners in Metro Manila and the Philippines at a national convention where they will draft/present a manifesto calling for the construction and segregation of a special lane for motorcycles and bicycles. The goal is to drastically reduce the high number of deaths and serious injuries involving motorcycle riders, to improve traffic flow on major roads where cars, buses and motorcycles end up slowing down as they avoid colliding with each other; and to spur economic growth outside of City centers.

The suggestion to open up or construct a special lane for motorcycles and scooters on the NLEX – SLEX – CAVITEX etc. is intended to give riders a direct, faster, and safer passage or route in and out of Metro Manila. By doing so many employees who are riders can reside outside central Metro Manila and still manage to go to work early or go home later than they do now because they have a bike instead of leaving early to catch the last bus or jeepney going home. With access to special lanes on expressways, the riders don’t have to live near work and can reside outside the Metro area where rent is cheaper and they get to live in a house with their families instead of renting bed space six days a week! This has been done in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand and it resulted in economic growth and property development outside city centers.

I have written about this at least twice in this column and bikers have mentioned the matter time and again. But the game changer comes in the form or naggers coming together. Most motorcycle riders welcome an opportunity to take a road trip and when you present them an opportunity to “Ride for a cause” or to “Ride to Save Lives” you are almost guaranteed a huge turn out especially among clubs. What’s great about this particular plan is that it closes the gap between the rich riders and the regular guys.

For the longest time, bike riders or motorcycle owners have been treated as second-class citizens on Philippine roads. They are treated as if anyone on a motorcycle is a messenger or just an employee paying installments for his cheap motorcycle.  But times have changed and the biker profile has as well. Even in our church there is a group called the Victory Riders and they are all full pledged Pastors or church elders with a sprinkling of godly businessmen riding shotgun. Aside from the President of the Philippines, there are many presidents of the top corporations of the country who are also motorcycle enthusiast. So be careful about worn out negative stereotypes about bikers.

Any opposition to the coming manifesto for dedicated lanes will certainly be labeled as Anti-poor and anti-progress and given that the President is a down to the bone serious biker, politicians and businessmen may now find it hard to ignore the clamor for safer roads for bikers. If that still doesn’t convince the powers that be in politics and business, then the roar and thunder of 10,000 bikers in front of Congress and corporate headquarters should be loud enough to hear all the way to the Board Rooms of the Philippines. Let’s Roll!!!

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