TODAY COLOMBIA – The use of the motorcycle has grown steadily in Bogota and around the country in the last 12 years, from 2002 to September 2014, the number of rose in the capital city from 16.397 to 409.349.
On the one hand, the low cost of motorcycles allows low and middle income earners to have a cheap transportation alternative to the bus and improve their quality of life.
But, on the other hand, the motorcycle is also responsible for almost half (44%) of the deaths in traffic accidents in the country. According to figures by the Secretaría de Movilidad (Ministry of Transport), from January to October 2014, 110 motorcyclists died, an increase over the 103 for the entire 2013.
Worrying to transport officials, two thirds of motorcyclists were often ridership in public transport. In Bogota, the bus lost 400.000 users due to the increase in motorcycles.
Buying a motorcylce in Colombia does not require one to hold a license, not even the ability to read and write for that matter. Many times not even cash in hand, as vendors offer financial plans with no money down to move the bikes out the door.
The situation is out of control, leading the Ministry of Transportation to look into creating “a policy for user and growth of this type of vehicle,” with the intention of discouraging their use.
Opposing any disincentive is Alfredo Albornoz, general manager of the Automotive Club, who does not agree with “the government taking away people’s rights to choose their means of transport, for not being able to handle the problem.”
Ricardo Montezuma, a mobility expert, told El Tiempo “there can be no control on the sales, but what we should have is regulation and enforcement.”
One of the advantages of the motorcycles, besides their low cost to buy, is low operating costs, motorcyclists don’t pay tolls, and don’t have parking or plate restrictions.
The Ministry of Transport is analyzing solutions that include the obligation of a license, and meeting pollution controls among others. Being discussed is requiring companies that hire the motorcyclist to ensure that the riders have quality helmets to save their lives in an accident and training in the proper use of the vehicle.
Another proposed solution is the creation of an exclusive lane for motorcycles on the right side of the road, to avoid zigzagging, as is done with bicycles.
Montezuma says one of the mistakes of the Código de Tránsito (Traffic Act) is that motorcycles and bicycles are regulated in the same way, but are very different vehicles. “With create an unsafe situation,” said Montezuma.
