Even though I am content with taking a taxi cab everywhere I need to go in Davao, there are a couple other options that I have never seen in any American cities.
Jeepney
Jeepneys are the most popular form of transportation in the Philippines, and many Filipinos describe them as "public transportation". For as little as $0.25, they can take you anywhere on their route. They are usually filled to capacity (and then some) and make their way around the city with flamboyant decorations and non-traditional horns that are more like musical instruments than traffic devices.
The jeepneys were originally made from jeeps that were left over by the US after World War II. Since then, they have been sold in modeld that are similar to the original design.
Tricycle ("trike")
Similar to a motorcycle with a sidecar, trikes are usually motorized scooters that are surround by a chassis that has a bench for passengers. Sometimes they will have a foot-powered bicycle instead of a scooter. They are common and I usually see them darting through traffic with little concern for the other vehicles on the road.
The trikes cost around $0.50 per ride and usually are used for short distances. If you are lucky enough to get an audacious driver, he or she will find a way to get you to your destination quickly.
I have seen trikes that are built for 2-3 passengers have 8 people on them. This puts an obvious strain on the small scooter engine and it's almost comical to watch them attempt driving up a steep grade.
I am still trying to get a picture of a "high-capacity scooter". The scooters are designed for only an operator and a passenger, but I have seen 5 people on a 2-seater. It may be dangerous, but you can't help to wonder, "How do they actually do that??" I have only seen this a couple of times, but I will post a picture of this mystical creature once I see it again.
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