Chapter Four: No Ragrets
Chapter Four: No Ragrets
For years, I was firmly, loudly against riding motorcycles. If the topic came up, I had my speech ready: motorcycles are dangerous, one mistake and you're badly hurt, why would anyone take that risk?
So it's a little funny that I'm now writing a chapter about wanting one.
Where the fear came from
My stance didn't come out of nowhere. I grew up hearing it from my parents and relatives. I saw it on the news, on TV and online. And the numbers backed them up.
More than 15,000 motorcycle accidents were reported in 2024, according to the PNP Highway Patrol Group. Data from the Metro Manila Development Authority shows that motorcycles expose riders and passengers to about twice the risk of accidents compared to four-wheel vehicles.
Hard to argue with that. So for a long time, I didn't.
Enter the TK10
Then I bought an electric scooter, an NWOW TK10.
I'll be honest about the reasons. The practical one: tricycle fares kept going up and changing, and dealing with tricycles had become a regular headache. A scooter would help us get around without all that.
The less practical one: it looks a bit like the Yamaha Vino that Rin Shima rides in Yuru Camp. I'm not saying that was the deciding factor. I'm also not saying it wasn't.
My first ride was all caution. I was gripping the handles, taking it slow, seriously learning the ropes. But after a day or two, something changed. I was confident. And somewhere in there, I started enjoying it.
The feeling I didn't expect
It crept up on me little by little: a feeling of freedom.
The air brushing against my arms and face. The way the road opens up in front of you. How easy it is to just stop when a little shop along the road catches your eye, no parking hassle, no fuss. You notice things on a scooter that you'd pass right by in a car or a tricycle.
The ride I remember most was completely out of the blue: a trip from Sorsogon City to Casiguran just to have breakfast. For a scooter with limited range, that felt like an adventure. It's the kind of thing I'd never have done before, and exactly the kind of thing I want to keep doing.
What the family thought
When I first started riding the TK10, my family was understandably worried. Given everything they'd told me over the years, I couldn't blame them.
Over time, they grew more confident too. They still remind us to be careful, though. I don't think that part will ever stop, and honestly, I hope it doesn't.
So, a motorcycle?
Yes. I'm actually planning to get one. I'm still deciding between manual and automatic, but as I write this, I'm leaning toward manual because of a certain Suzuki that's caught my eye.
My view on the risks hasn't changed. The numbers are still the numbers. What's changed is how I want to live with them. I'd rather ride carefully and enjoy that freedom than live in fear and end up with regrets. Or, as a certain tattoo in We're the Millers from Scotty P. put it: no ragrets.
The plan is simple: ride defensively, stay alert, and always wear proper riding gear.
The me who gave all those safety speeches would probably be shocked. But I think he'd understand once he felt the wind.
More roads, and more chapters, ahead.