With fuel prices climbing and urban traffic worsening, motorcycles have rapidly caught up with cars in sheer numbers. For many, tandem riding – a driver with a back rider – has become the most practical way to commute. But for the back rider, this affordability and convenience come with a price: safety and comfort risks.
Inventor Engr. Edwin Macaraeg knows this problem first hand. Growing up in the early ’80s, he often rode as a passenger on his family’s motorcycle, struggling to find a safe and comfortable place to hold on to. Holding his brother’s shirt or waist was awkward; grabbing the underside of the seat was unsafe and uncomfortable. This experience stuck with him for decades, especially as he continued to notice the same issue for countless other back riders today, particularly those who aren’t related or close to the driver.
The Problem: Back Riders without a Proper Grip
On most motorcycles, the back rider has no dedicated handles to maintain balance. In practice, passengers end up:
- Grabbing the driver’s clothing, belt, or shoulders
- Reaching awkwardly under the seat or to the cargo frame
- Leaning uncomfortably just to keep stable
These improvised grips not only cause discomfort but also compromise balance, increasing the risk of accidents. The absence of proper support also violates the basic three-point safety rule, making tandem rides more stressful than they should be.
The Solution: The ECM “Easy Rider Grip” Safety Vest
Engr. Macaraeg’s answer to this problem is simple yet innovative: a specially designed motorcycle vest with multiple secure grip points to be worn by the driver, giving the back rider safe, easy, and natural places to hold on to.
The ECM Easy Rider Grip (ERG) Safety Vest features:
- Adjustable grips at the front belt line, sides, and center back
- Dual grips at the upper center back and top of the shoulders
- Optional grips at chest level
- A child attachment option for extra safety when carrying younger passengers
The vest can be tailored to personal preference, rider clubs, or commercial use (e.g., motorcycle taxis). It provides balance, comfort, and peace of mind—whether for everyday commuting or leisure rides.
From Idea to IP Protection with TechMatch
Recognizing the commercial potential of his idea, Engr. Macaraeg worked with TechMatch Asia, Inc. to secure Utility Model protection from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL). “TechMatch guided me from concept to protection,” Engr. Macaraeg shares. “Now, I can confidently explore partnerships and production knowing my idea is protected.”
By protecting the ECM ERG Safety Vest through a utility model, Engr. Macaraeg can now prevent others from copying the design without permission, negotiate with motorcycle-hailing companies for adoption, and work with prototype manufacturers to bring the vest to market.
The Road Ahead
With IP protection in place, Engr. Macaraeg is ready to collaborate with industry partners to make the ECM Easy Rider Grip Safety Vest available to more riders.
His vision:
A Safer, more comfortable tandem rides for everyone, whether you’re commuting to work or taking a weekend road trip…
To make it a regulatory, institutional and mandatory requirement for the motor-taxi driver or ordinary riding-in-tandem to wear an ECM-ERG Safety Vest for the safety of all riding public…
For those motor taxi companies, motorcycle vest manufacturers / designers or organizations who are interested in this utility model to develop/increase your patronage, please call (0954) 386-4161 or send an email at ecm.erg888@yahoo.com.
