The Use Motos in San
José Saves Time And
Money
Each day the streets of
San José are full of
more motorcycles and
scooters as the high
price of gasoline and
the vehicular
restrictions of San José
take effect.
According to figures
released by Luis Arce,
members of the Cámara de
Importadores de Costa
Rica and sales director
of Autos Livianos, a 30%
increase in the sales of
motorcycles and scooters
is expected, which
represents 52.000 more
units sold than in 2007.
The high cost of
gasoline is the main
reason for the increased
sales, according to Arce.
For instance, a "moto"
can run all week for
¢4.000 colones (us$7.0)
while the cost of
running an automobile
would be between ¢15.000
and ¢20.000 colones.
In addition, motos are
not part of the
vehicular restrictions
of San José.
For Autos Livianos the
high price of gasoline
will convert into sales
of more than 11.000
units this year.
Another company that
will be benefiting from
the high cost of
gasoline is the promoter
of light trucks, Tiger
Trucks, who expects a
50% increase in sales
over the last two years,
according to general
manager, Enrique Morice.
Tiger, in addition to
light trucks, added
motos to its line up and
sole 800 motos in the
first half of the year
and expects to sell more
than 900 more by the end
of the year.
The moto is not only a
question of saving on
gasoline, but also a way
of getting around the
congested streets of San
José with ease.
For example, a trip
between La Uruca in the
west end and Curridabat
in the east can take
about 15 minutes on a
moto, while it would
take 45 minutes to an
hour or more in an
automobile, depending on
the time of day and
congestion.
However, all that
savings in time and
money has a
disadvantage. Costa
Ricans, although a
peaceful and tranquil
bunch, they convert into
maniacs when they get
behind the wheel of
automobile and have no
respect for anyone that
gets in their way,
especially motorcycles
and pedestrians.
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