Public Transportation

I thought you may enjoy some pictures of various ways for getting around town. Public transportation is huge here because it is not that common to own your own vehicle. While you can find taxis in the city, jeepneys and tricycles are the way to go here in Lipa. Tricyles actually seem to be the most common of all here in Lipa, and these tiny motorcycle with sidecars heavily loaded with people and goods overwhelm the little streets.

Here you can see both tricycles (trikes) and pedicabs as well. Pedicabs are the variation of trikes that involve a lot more effort from the driver. They are usually cheaper, but they take longer too.
Another common form of transportation here in Lipa is the motocycle. While these vehicles are privately owned, the owner usually ends up giving rides to several people at once. Seeing whole families or groups of office mates on a single motorcycle is a common occurrence.

Jeepneys have become the icon in the Philippines. There were some US army Jeeps left over here after the war that the nationals transformed into what are now called Jeepneys. The style was so popular that manufacturing companies sprang up everywhere. These brightly-colored and loud (think musical horns blared often) vehicles are the common way to travel longer distances in the Philippines. It is unbelievable how many people they can squeeze into one Jeepney! The kids all absolutely love to ride on any public transportation here. Steve and I don't mind it, but would rather ride in our own vehicle with adequate head and feet room when we have the chance. Steve seems to think that the trikes were not designed with the height of an average American in mind...