Last December 23, 2019, ride-hailing motorcycle taxi service JoyRide opened its service to the public. Prior to this, we’ve had a lot of things at hand when it comes to the motor taxi industry:
- Angkas has voiced its strong disapproval as only 10,000 of their rider-partners will only be able to continue their service – if I calculated it right, 62% of their 27,000 rider-partner base, part-time or full, will be out of Angkas’ service;
- The statements made by Angkas’ George Royeca to the media perhaps drew the ire of the transport board, which led to a rebuttal statement by the Department of Transportation and the transport board on Facebook. The board points out that Angkas has overstepped their boundaries by having their service out of designated areas for the pilot period;
- In the end, the technical working group assigned for motor taxis decided that there shall be no more motor taxis by March 23, saying that “it sees no reason to extend the pilot for a third time.”
- By this time, we’ve seen the JoyRide reps tell the media that they’re not owned by any politician, though they admit sending a letter to the leader of the dominant political party to get in the pilot period. There were no replies, but they still did get in.
Again, we are in this so-called pilot period, where all motor taxis which move people and things are allowed. More on this in the later parts of the post.
So how was JoyRide?
Moving back to JoyRide, I tried the service twice. Based on the rider-partner I talked to in my first ride (December 28), JoyRide partners (or “Kasundo”) only accept full-time riders. This alone sets the difference between JoyRide and Angkas.
On my second ride on my way to Cosplay Matsuri Day 2 (December 29), I compared the fare between Angkas and JoyRide, as well as the availability of each services’ rider-partners. I do regret not having a proper screenshot for both services but bear with me.
From point A in Pasig to point B in Malibay, Pasay, JoyRide’s fare is 30 pesos less than Angkas; but Angkas certainly has more riders in the area than JoyRide. That’s how JoyRide works for me (I wonder how does it go well in your area – do tell me in the comments area below).
To cap off this post, let’s go back to the first JoyRide I had: While the stoplight was red, the JoyRide partner chanced upon an Angkas partner. They had a normal conversation with the Angkas partner asking the JoyRide partner what batch are they in.
Long story short: There’s no hate coming from the side of the riders. It’s just that we have this major ride-hailing app and the transport board who are definitely not on the same page.
Maybe the Angkas representative has said something that riled up the transport board.
In the end, we all suffer by March 23 – might as well enjoy the remaining days of motorcycle taxis.
Until both the government through the TWG and the private sector with Angkas as the dominant motor taxi ride-hailing service make up their bloody minds and be on the same page, we’ll live in a time bomb.
Imagine a time where there’s no other monopoly in the motor taxi space, the government has full support in moving people from place-to-place fast through any means, with the commuting and riding public actually cooperating so that we won’t have this thing called longer traffic which has brought us to this moment in the first place.
Just imagine that.
P.S.: I have not yet tried Move It, but you will hear King Julien’s “I like to Move It” as you get to their website.
