What is the difference between a publico and a concho?

live_for_life

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What is the difference between a publico and a concho? What is the cheapest, but safest way to get around santo domingo?
 

Rocky

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What is the difference between a publico and a concho? What is the cheapest, but safest way to get around santo domingo?
Publico means public, so in general, when someone tells you they took a publico, they are referring to taking public transport. (For us, it would likely mean a public car, as the vans are referred to as guaguas)
When we refer to a concho, here on the North coast, we are talking about a motoconcho, which is a motorbike taxi. (Santo Domingo expressions may vary from ours)
 

Chirimoya

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In Santo Domingo (carro) p?blico and concho are the same thing - shared taxis running along fixed routes. They, together with guaguas (buses) and motoconchos (motorbike taxis) are the cheapest, but not the safest way of getting around the capital.
 

bigbird

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In Santo Domingo (carro) p?blico and concho are the same thing - shared taxis running along fixed routes. They, together with guaguas (buses) and motoconchos (motorbike taxis) are the cheapest, but not the safest way of getting around the capital.

Chirimoya would you happen to know why there are no motoconchos in the Zona Colonial area? Once you leave ciudad centro they are zipping all over the place.
 

Chirimoya

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I don't really know! I guess that distances are not so large and can be covered on foot, compared to the modern part of the city which is much more spaced out.
 

qgrande

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With motoconcho do you mean motorbikes or cars? There is a carro p?blico (car) route in the Zona Colonial, following Meri?o-Billini-Independencia. But no, not as much as outside the Zona Colonial, like Chirimoya says that must be because the distances are small. About motoconchos (motorbikes), there aren't mucho of those in other parts of the city either, maybe the periphery. Does anyone know why that is? Motorbikes could be fast during rushhour trafficjams. P?blico route monopolies?
 

bigbird

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With motoconcho do you mean motorbikes or cars?.................. About motoconchos (motorbikes), there aren't mucho of those in other parts of the city either, maybe the periphery. Does anyone know why that is? Motorbikes could be fast during rushhour trafficjams. P?blico route monopolies?

I am talking about the motorbikes. I really don't know what is the proper word. I just yell "concho" or "moto" and a motorbike starts the engine.

The only areas I have seen a lot of motos or conchos or whatever are on the side road of the autopista heading to BC. There are plenty there to pick up the locals when they exit the guaguas.
 

Tor

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Is the word "Publico" just an expat word ?
I have never heard a Dominican here on the northcost say it. They usually just say "transporte" or just "taxi" I've might have heard some say "taxi publico" or "carro publico". But I cant remember to have heard other than expats say just "publico"
 

Rocky

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Is the word "Publico" just an expat word ?
I have never heard a Dominican here on the northcost say it. They usually just say "transporte" or just "taxi" I've might have heard some say "taxi publico" or "carro publico". But I cant remember to have heard other than expats say just "publico"
They certainly use the term around here, but again, Santo Domingo expressions can be different
 

Tor

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They certainly use the term around here, but again, Santo Domingo expressions can be different

I was thinking about the Sosua area. As I said, all Dominicans I know uses the word "transporte" or just "taxi", so i thougt maybe "publico" was more of a DR1 or expat word.
 

Chirimoya

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In SD "concho" or "carro p?blico" are most common, but I'm sure Dominicans also say "p?blico" for short too.
 

Tor

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Ok. We probably just know different people, but after 8 years in Sosua I never heard a Dominican use it, as a single word. "taxi publico" yes, "carro publico" yes. Just "publico" only on DR1.
 

jrzyguy

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certainly not an expert on the subject. But i've always that a publico was a car that you pile into and share with others for 5 pesos...the run direct routes up and down the major avenues so you migh have to take a couple to get to where you are going.

a taxi...you still might have to share...but not overcrowded like a publico. and usualy runs around 100 pesos (totaly worth the extra pesos in my opinion...i live in nyc..so 3-5 dollars for a taxi is a deal).

Then there are guaguas. (my pefered mode of transportation)

THen there are the couple of major bus lines.

oh...an then the conchos (i think of a concho as a guy on a motor bike). I have never had a problem with them. If i am not mistaken the conchos in the tourist areas have to have a special licence or cedula . They are safe to use but many are mafiosa and will offer you what ever you are looking for. i ONLY use conchos who i have known for a long time or that a TRUSTED friend recommends. If i am only going a few blocks i down worry...but to travel further around i recommend caution.

I always arrange my taxi service BEFORE i get to SDQ. ITs just nice having someone waiting for you when you arrive (luckily these days i have friends who meet me there).

Not claiming to be an expert here. Just thought i would try to help any newbies out with the terms (at least as far as the south coast and cap)
 

Rocky

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certainly not an expert on the subject. But i've always that a publico was a car that you pile into and share with others for 5 pesos...the run direct routes up and down the major avenues so you migh have to take a couple to get to where you are going.

a taxi...you still might have to share...but not overcrowded like a publico. and usualy runs around 100 pesos (totaly worth the extra pesos in my opinion...i live in nyc..so 3-5 dollars for a taxi is a deal).

Then there are guaguas. (my pefered mode of transportation)

THen there are the couple of major bus lines.

oh...an then the conchos (i think of a concho as a guy on a motor bike). I have never had a problem with them. If i am not mistaken the conchos in the tourist areas have to have a special licence or cedula . They are safe to use but many are mafiosa and will offer you what ever you are looking for. i ONLY use conchos who i have known for a long time or that a TRUSTED friend recommends. If i am only going a few blocks i down worry...but to travel further around i recommend caution.

I always arrange my taxi service BEFORE i get to SDQ. ITs just nice having someone waiting for you when you arrive (luckily these days i have friends who meet me there).

Not claiming to be an expert here. Just thought i would try to help any newbies out with the terms (at least as far as the south coast and cap)
There may be public taxis there in Santo Domingo, but not here.
We have the carro publico, the guaguas, busses and motoconchos.
There is no such thing as a taxi publico, at least, not around here.
Private taxis can & will take you to your destination of choice, at a higher price, of course.
Publicos run specific routes and do not deviate.
One can sometimes hire a publico to act as a taxi, but it's on the QT, as the taxi drivers would be all over him for stealing their business, and they play rough.
 

ElvisNYC

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Rocky, along the Cabarete-Sosua-Puerto Plata road you will find these taxi publicos- which I've used numerous of times. Cheaper than taxis and much more convenient than guagas. For the experience, I went on a guagua and there about 22 people (not including the driver) inside this guagua (minivan). It was really fun !

For everyone,

Motoconcho (bike)
Carro concho (shared car) aka.. as publico, carro, concho, carro publico

Dominicans for some reason call carro concho and motoconcho as concho, without being too detailed about it, especially in Santiago and SD- where the majority use carro concho. They don't get that technical !
 

Rocky

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Rocky, along the Cabarete-Sosua-Puerto Plata road you will find these taxi publicos- which I've used numerous of times. Cheaper than taxis and much more convenient than guagas. For the experience, I went on a guagua and there about 22 people (not including the driver) inside this guagua (minivan). It was really fun !

For everyone,

Motoconcho (bike)
Carro concho (shared car) aka.. as publico, carro, concho, carro publico

Dominicans for some reason call carro concho and motoconcho as concho, without being too detailed about it, especially in Santiago and SD- where the majority use carro concho. They don't get that technical !
Those are carros publicos, not taxis.
I thought I explained it clearly, but I'll try again.
Taxis would take you to a destination of your choice, like into a barrio, right to your door.
Carros publicos run specific routes.
Private taxis will take you wherever you want to go.
There is no such thing as a public taxi, at least, not around here.
You can hire a publico to take you and friends, if you like, to a specific destination, at which point, they are acting like an illegal private taxi.
 

Frenki

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excuse me for interupting, if someone tell me what is the taxi price on these routes in the city: Zona Colonial - Faro a Colon, Faro a Colon - Acuario Nacional
many thanks !
 

Rocky

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excuse me for interupting, if someone tell me what is the taxi price on these routes in the city: Zona Colonial - Faro a Colon, Faro a Colon - Acuario Nacional
many thanks !
You mention taxi and routes.
Which do you mean?
A taxi between those points, or how much public cars and/or busses cost?
 

jaguarbob

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excuse me for interupting, if someone tell me what is the taxi price on these routes in the city: Zona Colonial - Faro a Colon, Faro a Colon - Acuario Nacional
many thanks !

are you asking about a taxi you call,or a publico??I call a taxi to the Acuario from Zona Colonial for 150 pesos...Faro a Colon about 130 pesos...now you can take a publico for 12 pesos if you know the route they are going,you may need to change once...
bob