Trike driver recommendations...

Will be a "newbie" in town come September and most people in the forum recommend hiring a trike for the day to do simple errands around town and also an excellent way to know the Dumaguete area instead of renting a car.

Does anybody have a good trike driver for hire? I just leased a house in San Lorenzo Upper Talay-Balugo--no idea how far this is from Dumaguete City proper.

 

That is before factoring in traffic conditions!

 

I know a trike driver 100 % honest, helpful and with a nice personality, the same time his a good driver and his trike in a good condition. I broke my hips in a bike accident, have a time with wheelchair and walking stick, he was my personal helper. We go city with a wheelchair, he helps me in and out of it, go shopping and I just told him what I want, he took care of all. I used him until I could drive again, still see him from time to time, can ask if he is interested if you want.

 

Just for interest's sake, can you tell us approximately what you paid him for an hour, or a day or whatever time frame used? Its more important what you paid than what he asked because sometimes they ask for less than they expect and if you don't tip the fellow he is not so interested next time.

I found a guy (who I will not recommend) who drove me around between Sibulan and Dumaguete for a period of about 3 hours one day. He charged me 600 pesos. I offered 500 and he said no. He said 600 is fair for 3 hours use of a private tricycle. I thought that high. What do you think?

 

I always use him half day from the morning when shopping malls open or from around lunchtime, and 3-4 hours. He asks like 250-300 pesos, I paid 500 pesos, remember he was a kind of helper too, in the beginning, he drives me around in a wheelchair, pick me up in Bacong and of course drive me home again. He told me you don't need to pay me that much, but he is a really nice guy, have a family, wife, and kids, and 500 pesos are a very little amount for me for that service.

 

It depends to a great extent on how much fuel he used, which relates to how much of that was driving time and not waiting time. Fuel has increased a lot recently and must be a headache for trike drivers.

I know that builders are paid about 400 to 500 per day (which seems terribly low to me) and I see no reason why a trike driver should not earn the same (it is less skilled than a builder but usually harder work). So perhaps the labour cost should be about 180 for 3 hours and then add fuel cost. Another comparison is with what he could have earned if picking up passengers - a 3 km trip could pick up maybe 8 passengers each way and take one hour total, which equals 128 per hour. So 3 hours would be about 390.

Most of this is guesswork but as I like guessing I conclude that 400/500 is fine.

 

I am interested definitely...thanks.

 

Best way to get to know the way the trikes work is to use them like the locals do. Get short trips everywhere you need to go. If you are able, walk around downtown. You'll notice a lot more by going for a stroll than you will by always driving.

If you want to get an idea for how much trikes should cost for getting from one point to the next, bring a local with you and have that person negotiate the fare. Every ride will be "double-ride" which means twice as much, but it will give you an idea.

Getting a driver for a partial day won't help you for getting to know the fares or how to actually get a driver to take you there. There are a lot of quirks to figure out.

They'll charge you more on rainy days because they can't get customers (considered a special trip if they know they won't be able to pick up other passengers.)

Getting a trip from one odd spot in town to another odd spot in town can be difficult, so it's better to ask for a common stopping point somewhere in the middle and then get another trike. Get to know those common routes. For example, getting a trike to go between Lee Plaza and Robinson's is easy and it's standard fare. Places which are a ways out from downtown still generally have their common places, figure out where those places are near you.

The more you offer, the more they'll ask, even if it's way above what they normally get. I make one offer and don't negotiate after that.

I generally think of fare in terms of segments. I know I can get from point X to point Y for the standard fare. I know I can get from point Y to point Z for the standard fare. I know I'll be waiting for a long time to maybe get someone to take me from point X to point Z for standard fare. So, I'll offer "double-ride" (double-standard) for point X to point Z. If they want more than that, then it's better to just have them take me to the first stopping point and I'll get another trike.

Deal only with trikes which are actively working. Don't bother drivers which have been sitting for a while, instead look for one which is driving. Don't bother with drivers who are actively hustling for customers but aren't getting locals, these guys are just trying to soak tourists for bigger fare. For example, it's easy to get a trike to take you into the front of Robinson's, but getting a trike to take you out of there is generally a ripoff. It's better to follow the locals as they walk out to the side road and get the trikes which are already on the road.

And the list goes on...

You only figure this stuff out as you get out and get adventurous. And why not? It's all part of the fun of living in Dumaguete.