MotoTaxis now in Bogotá

Rubito says on May 6, 00:21:

I'm sure if it becomes common I'll be taking them and my wife will hate it :P

---Violence is the price of freedom.---

bogotabrian says on May 6, 04:49:

In Medellin maybe, but no way in Bogota.

webmanco says on May 6, 05:21:

There are already 7 Moto ambulancias.

But, I'm going to start making some assumptions here.... Which means I might actually end up making an ass out of myself ..........Thu 04 17, 2008 11:34 am

Rikito says on May 6, 08:48:

Look, the way people around here drive Motos is insane. Look at your traffic accidents and who causes them. A high percentage are motos, either directly or indirectly. They are not safely driven, I doubt very much if they are properly maintained except for a few, and most of the drivers think that they have a god given right to drive wherever the 'f' they want, how they want , and at whatever speed they want. For the most part they drive to fast, disobey almost all traffic rules, go through stop lights, endanger the people on the sidewalks, and their riders many of whom do not bother to wear safety equipment. Last Saturday night during a rain storm on the road between Armenia and Montenegro there was an accident. The moto driver was passing on the right and when he tried to get back into the lane he swerved into the truck. Well, under the front of the truck. They took his head out of the grill and the passenger didn’t make it either. The truck driver never knew that anyone was trying to pass him on the right side of the road.

Now you want these clowns to be able to call themselves “Mototaxis� so they can earn what…an extra $2000COL net per day. It is insane and shows a total disregard for life. And don’t give me this crap that only a few drive this way! 90% drive like they just got laid for the first time in their life and they want everyone to know. Women Moto drivers are far better than male drivers because they are more careful and are probably afraid of they way men drive Motos. There is no way you can justify this either.

A nurse friend of mine who works in an hospital emergency room told me this…“the best thing that can happen to someone who gets in an accident on his Moto is to not come out of it alive. I know that a bunch of you are going to jump on me for being so negative. That’s ok…but do me a favor before you try to jump on the new male phallic symbol and drive off in to the sun set…spend a weekend from 8 p.m. to 12 p.m. in an emergency room of any hospital. If you don’t toss your cookies at all of the moto accidents you can do what you want.

It is not life that matters, but the journey.

webmanco says on May 6, 08:54:

Not too good to generalize, I could fit some of your descriptions but not all. The raise on moto accidents nowdays is due to many new moto drivers and drinking and driving. And not always the motordrivers are to blame on accidents.

And as for bad mechanics well, now motorcicles need to do the Tecnomecanical test, in other words motorcicles need to be certified that they are in goog mechanical conditions.

But, I'm going to start making some assumptions here.... Which means I might actually end up making an ass out of myself ..........Thu 04 17, 2008 11:34 am

Mononoke28 says on May 6, 09:04:

Isn't that illegal though? I know Uribe wants to ban it because of safety reasons. They're all over the place in Tuluá as well and you have to know their "signals" to know who's a motocab and who's not.

I personally couldn't do it. Who knows where that guy can take me. Yikes!

Diana

webmanco says on May 6, 09:10:

Diana
As per Rikito words the guy would take you to heaven. (not stop)
Yes it is illegal
:-)

But, I'm going to start making some assumptions here.... Which means I might actually end up making an ass out of myself ..........Thu 04 17, 2008 11:34 am

Rikito says on May 6, 09:39:

I realize that I hae made many generalizations, but you will find that many many people agree with me. Also, note that it is the drivers and not the motos that are the problem.

It is not life that matters, but the journey.

Rikito says on May 6, 09:43:

And they are illegal in Armenia also. There has been some demonstrations demanding they be allowed, but thank god the mayor is a woman...and a mother. So the net result is that we will rule by ignorance because the police are to inept to take any action. To do so takes away their time talking with the chicas.

It is not life that matters, but the journey.

Mononoke28 says on May 6, 10:29:

Not only that but they're bus drivers were complaining that since they're so cheap, a lot of people are starting to take the mototaxis instead of the bus.

I think in Tuluá they call them motoratas or motoratones. Something like that.

Diana

Rubito says on May 6, 11:04:

ANYTHING that puts the traditional bus companies out of business in Bogota is good as far as I'm concerned!

---Violence is the price of freedom.---

miamimike says on May 6, 11:29:

I like the idea of the Motoconchos(as they are called in the DR). They provide the working class with a much needed lower priced form of Transportation. In the Philippines they hang a Sidecar on the Moto so its quite a bit safer. Uesd to cost like a Dime per ride back when I used them. Somedays I would rent a driver with his Sidecar rig--$5 meals&Gas for the day,,,

"There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." —President George W. Bush,

Rubito says on May 6, 11:31:

I dont think it will ever take off in Bogota. It didn't in Santo Domingo or Santiago, although it's common as hell everywhere else in the DR. That model only seems to work in cities up til they reach a certain size.

---Violence is the price of freedom.---

Boatygringo says on May 6, 13:59:

Most Moto riders dont own the Moto they ride in Cartagena, they lease it by the day for 15.000cp and get to keep every thing over that, less the gas they have to buy. In Cartagena they have Pic Placa for Moto' only, so they end up having to lease two bikes one with an odd tag and one with an even tag, form some guy that may own a number of Moto's. Also the rules are not Moto;s after 10pm, no gas sold to a Moto after 7pm and the first friday of the month no moto's of any kind. So the Moto guys are poor and can barely make a living and thats the way the Bus and Taxie owners want it. If they could they woul ban all Moto Taxies.

Boatygringo

kat1 (Moderator) says on May 7, 05:25:

uy no que peligro, no me subo en una ni a palo. prefiero caminar o montar en cicla

webmanco says on May 7, 05:27:

Even if Elmo (edited) wants to give you a ride?

In his motorcicle I mean. ;-)

But, I'm going to start making some assumptions here.... Which means I might actually end up making an ass out of myself ..........Thu 04 17, 2008 11:34 am

kat1 (Moderator) says on May 7, 05:35:

well if you put it like that how can I resist :))))

Rubito says on May 7, 07:57:

I'd prefer my bicycle too! :)

---Violence is the price of freedom.---

Tinto (Moderator) says on May 7, 08:04:

The side car idea sounds cool, esp. if they gave the passengers an aviator jacket, goggles, and a scarf to wear. On a serious note, given some of the tiny taxis and their tiny engines, I wonder if a big motorcycle and sidecar rig might suck up almost as much fuel or pollute almost as much as a taxi?

kat1 (Moderator) says on May 7, 08:04:

Or webmanco, you ba*** you edited your question!!!! jajajaj

well my answer NO WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

bufalo says on May 7, 19:16:

The only place I took or would ever take a mototaxi is and was Leticia. People drive like human beings down there and there aren't many cars at all. Forget any other city.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor