Riding the tricycle is an adventure unto itself

Small, colorful and a menace on the streets--tricycles are part of Pasay's chaos as they zip through tiny back alleys, narrowly avoiding pedestrians who seem unfazed by them. Tricycles can travel almost anywhere, even for short distances along EDSA extension and Roxas Boulevard, where they brazenly overtake cars and buses, and indignantly honking their horns in the process.  Although they are allowed on the service road parallel to Roxas Boulevard,  they are not allowed in the Mall of Asia complex.

One-way streets? No problem. Tricycles seem exempted from that rule, forging on ahead and just swerving to the side if there is an on-coming vehicle. Stoplight at an intersection? Watch as the impatient tricycle driver miraculously finds an opening or even signals to drivers of vehicles to let them pass while other vehicles are obeying the traffic rules--all of this happening in front of a traffic enforcer, who either is too busy or too used to the sight to pay heed.

Get used to seeing people seated behind tricycle drivers, either as passengers or friends requesting a free ride, although you can request that you travel alone. Don't be alarmed by the presence of toddlers and other children of these drivers gleefully  grasping the handlebars of the tricycle as the driver keeps a watchful eye on the child and on the road. On weekends, sometimes their entire families can also go along for the ride while picking up passengers. Drivers can also stop and chat with other drivers or yell out to friends as they whiz by.

Tricycles are quite varied. Some have music blasting out of huge speakers. Others have mirrors inside the passenger area, mesmerizing  the passenger into staring at his reflection throughout the ride. Some are surprisingly comfortable and well sprung, while others may make you feel aftershocks from every pothole in the street. Various signs and stickers decorate the inside of the tricycle, from possibly paid endorsements and advertisements to the usual "Feet off pls" sign and religious images or rosaries. Don't forget the curtain or plastic at the passenger entrance of the tricycle. Quite handy in case of rain. Ease carefully in to the tricycle as there may be objects inside that can poke you. Getting out gracefully from the tricycle is a feat. It's probably more like hauling yourself out by grasping the handles of the tricycle and taking care not to hit your head while doing so.

Tricycle drivers usually line up in an orderly manner at their terminal or designated waiting area, so if there's a tricycle line nearby, don't just hail any passing tricycle as the driver will direct you to the line. However, if there is no terminal, you can hail any tricycle from anywhere and get off almost anywhere.

There is usually a standard fare rate that tricycles drivers charge for various destinations depending on the distance, ranging from P20-P40 at time of posting. If you're doing errands around Pasay, you can even ask the driver to wait for you and pay a little extra depending on your agreement.

The jeepney may be the king of the road in Metro Manila, but tricycles are giving them a run for their money.