Late last year, a welding shop in Cabuyao, Laguna trended on social media for combining the jeepney and tricycle, perhaps the two most iconic modes of transportation in the Philippines, into one. It’s called the jeepcycle.
5E Welding Shop owner Erik Mahinay said in an interview with the Philippine Star that he created the modified vehicle amid the shift to modernized jeepneys. While more environment-friendly and beneficial towards job creation, these replacements of aging public utility vehicles barely resemble the traditional jeepneys whose classic design made them a cultural symbol in the country.
As traditional jeepneys are gradually phased out, Mahinay said he’d like to preserve what he deemed a Filipino trademark by modifying tricycles to look like jeepneys. Each unit takes fifteen days to create and costs at least Php80,000.
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Besides the jeepcycle, Mahinay’s shop also produces mini jeepneys that are akin to the Bajaj RE, a three-wheeler that’s popular for passenger transport in India. Mahinay claims their mini jeepney, which seats eight and costs Php250,000, requires minimal maintenance as the vehicle uses a motorcycle engine.
Mahinay shared that the jeepcycle project began in 2019 and has so far been well-received that the shop has orders well into May 2023. Anyone interested in jeepcycle may contact Mahinay via his shop’s Facebook page. They also have a YouTube channel with plenty of videos showing the jeepcycle and mini jeepney in action.