Following the introduction of Ground Transit Law 63-17 that prohibits children under 8 from riding on motorcycles, the National Federation of Motorcycle Taxi Drivers (Fenamoto) has begun a pilot scheme to introduce the “Mototaxis”, “Margaritas” or “tuk tuks” to Greater Santo Domingo.
This is a motorcycle with three wheels and a roof and capacity for four people that is already being used in several towns and cities in the country including Manzanillo, Navarrete, Dajabón, Mao and Monción as well as in tourist areas such Puerto Plata.
In Greater Santo Domingo they are in operation in San Pío X Street in the Renacimiento area where they travel to Los Cacizcagos, in Isabel Aguiar (Pintura) and the Universidad del Caribe.
According to Oscar Almánzar, president of Fenamoto, they are safer, more comfortable, and they will have wi-fi in the future.
Almánzar said that the idea is to have feeder routes to the Metro and other express routes and they are in discussions with Franchesca de los Santos, director of the National Institute of Transit and Ground Transport (Intrant) on the plan.
On the downside, the tuk tuks cost more than double the price of a motorcycle at RD$195,000. This puts them out of reach for most motorcycle taxis drivers.
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El Dia
5 June 2018
