riding on a jeepney

Jeepney

In Philippines, Jeepney or jeep called the King of the Street, it is a unique and popular means of public transportation all around its cities. This blog will not only tell about the process on how getting around the town by using jeepney but also the different events, culture and beautiful places for you to choose, to travel around the Philippines Islands.
History

In my research, jeeps were originally made from US military. they are left over from World War II and are well known for their flamboyant decoration and crowded seating.

As American troops began to leave the Philippines at the end of World War II, hundreds of surplus jeeps were sold or given to local Filipinos. Locals stripped down the jeeps to accommodate several passengers, added metal roofs for shade, and decorated the vehicles with vibrant colors and bright chrome hood ornaments.

The jeepney rapidly emerged as a popular and creative way to re-establish inexpensive public transportation, which had been virtually destroyed during World War II. Recognizing the wide-spread use of these vehicles, the Philippine government began to place restrictions on their use. Drivers now must have specialized licenses, regular routes, and reasonably fixed fares.

The word jeepney is usually believed to come from the words "jeep" and "knee" because of the crowded seating, passengers must sit knee to knee. Hence, the word jeepney.