Motorcycles, motorcycles, motorcycles.

I have a long-standing hate relationship with some motorcycle drivers especially here in the province. They drive as if they have a force-field that will prevent them from being hurt. They drive as if there were no cars around them. Some don't even have sideview mirrors to monitor movement behind them. They just look in front of them and don't mind what's behind them. They go through every space be it in between cars and trucks, or counterflow. To top it all, they don't use proper signals -- hand or light!!!

Every morning I have to go through a litany of "should-be's" and a morning exercise shaking my head from left to right everytime I see motorcylce drivers not wearing a helmet or lugging his wife and two kids on his tiny motorcycle, all without helmets, mind you.

In my head I would tell myself that one day, I'll have my moment with motorcycles. And so it arrived.

I was crossing the main intersection of C-5 southbound coming from Ortigas, trying to merge with the rest of the truck-anity (truck-ban not in effect). I was trying to defend myself from the car on my left, and steered my wheel to the right then I heard a loud scratch on my right side. How did you guess? Yes, a motorcycle on the fast lane with the rest of truck-anity and car-anity.

Just my luck. Just when I didn't renew my comprehensive insurance. Drat.

He turned right toward the curb and as a good citizen, I followed. I put on my hazzard, went down my car fuming inside, and checked the damage to my car. Drat. The rubber on his steering handle (whatever you call it) rubbed on my black paint. Double drat. My car's side had a dent, but at least no scratch. In my head, I was thankful because I can still easily rub off the mark with gas and rubbing compound, and I could probably ask someone to just push the dent out.

I was about to rant to the motorcycle driver, when I tried to keep my cool and asked if he was hurt. Again, thank God, he wasn't. He tried to show me what I did to his motorcycle. Just a bent foot rest. No scratch, no dent, no broken mechanicals. Of course, we had an argument with who's at fault. I admitted I didn't see him on my right because for one, I wasn't expecting to see a mini-motorcycle in the midst of trucks, SUV's and cars! He was accusing me of squeezing him into the truck! Heck, would I do that?

Then I realized that this guy wasn't happy with an apology, he was trying to solicit money from me. And so I immediately made it clear that I didn't have any cash to give him. I offered him cosmetics because that was the only thing in the car I could give him. I didn't have change that time so I couldn't really offer him 50 bucks. He was still persistent. I already told him that I have a more costly repair to be done than his. I even offered to straighten his foot rest, believe it or not, I did put my hand on it to try to budge it. Of course, it didn't work. :P The usiseros were already agreeing with me. Other motorcycle drivers passing by would slow down beside us to survey the damage of his vehicle, but they only shook their heads in disagreement with the motorcyclist. After 10 minutes, he realized that he won't get anything from me, he finally decided to leave. He probably thought he could get me to be soooo apologetic like some helpless lady drivers, but he bumped the wrong lady driver.

If I only have the powers, I'll legislate some laws requiring motorcyle drivers to get a license, undergo lessons on road courtesy and road rules, and to wear a helmet as well as their passengers.

I'm sure some of you drivers will have some similar sentiments with me regarding motorcycles. I know some friends of mine who do.