Mototaxis
Mototaxis at the entrance of barrio Los Caracoles
One thing that makes Cartagena unique is the huge moto culture. There are literally thousands of motos circulating throughout the city at any given moment, and you can’t even walk down the street without multiple mototaxis driving by and honking to see if you want a ride. Motos make it possible for people to get around the city quickly, affordably, and efficiently. From the first day I used a mototaxi to get to work, I never looked back, and I continued to use them to get to the university and around the city almost every single day. It was a cost-efficient way to get around, it was also a way to avoid traffic, and en moto I could arrive on time to wherever I was going even if I was already running late. Motos are great and they allowed me to travel further and experience more within the city. Here are some of the rules I learned during my time living in a city moved by moto…
There are a TON of motos in the city, and they are always offering a rides, however the best place to hail mototaxis are mototaxi stations. These stations are groups of drivers who report back to the same spot everyday and usually wear matching vests. There are moto stations outside of malls, at the gate of the University, and at the front of most neighborhoods. Another great option is to have someone recommend a moto driver that they trust to you that you can call when you need a ride.
There are indeed moments when you need a ride, aren’t near a station, and don’t have a trusty moto who is available to pick you up, and in those moments you must use your discretion to decide whether or not to take a moto. Unfortunately, there are times when people pose as moto drivers in order to rob unsuspecting passengers, and this is why it's safer to go with a moto that you know, or who is part of a station and is wearing a vest. Other ways to spot legit moto drivers is that they almost always wear a helmet, to protect themselves as they often spend the entire day driving, many wear long sleeves to protect themselves from the sun, and many have a fanny pack for money and change. Someone lacking these elements is a little less likely to be legit.
Always confirm the price of your ride before taking off en moto, and the better your accent, the lower the price will be. This is where your knowledge of costeñol will come in handy. You can say “buenas, voy pá… [your destination]” and then ask “cuánto vale?” It's a good idea to know how much una carrera costs and to ask just to confirm.
It is a good idea to get on and off motos on the left side, so that you don’t get burned by the exhaust pipe on the right side. Thankfully I never got burned, but whenever I saw someone with a burn on the inside of their right calf, I knew exactly where it came from. It is possible to get on and off on the right side of a moto safely if you have to, but you’ll need to be aware & watch your step!
You should protect yourself and your things when en moto. Be sure to secure loose items; I always held onto earrings that I thought might blow off, and I often wore my backpack to the front and held onto it there. Wear a casco, a helmet, to protect your head. Sunglasses are helpful for avoiding anything flying into your eye at high-speed. Less serious but tips that will make your ride more comfy are that when its rainy, you should lift your feet to avoid water splashes that might saturate your shoes, and when it's really sunny, a scarf or long sleeve can help you handle the sun!
Lastly and very importantly, you should know that you don’t hold on by wrapping your hands around the mototaxista’s belly! I did this the first time I rode a moto, because I was scared to fall off and because I guess that is just what I assumed you do but noooooo (that is something pretty much reserved for couples)! What you can do is hold onto the driver with your legs. Most people ride like this with their hands either on their (own!) knees, holding onto the seat behind them, or if you must hold on you can hold onto the driver’s hips (which seems weirder to me that hugging them, pero ajá) or their shoulders. The more you ride motos the more comfortable you get, so rather than holding on I saw many passengers texting, combing their hair, putting on make up, eating, super super relaxed. With time I eventually I got more comfortable too.
Like I mentioned before in my “Navigating the City” post, not everyone uses mototaxis, but many, many people do. You’ll see toddlers to elderly adults en moto, and you can also see some surprising sets of passengers like an entire family, 4-5 young people, or people holding a variety of miscellaneous items (TVs, tables, fans, building materials, pets). The more outrageous occurrences sometimes cause people to criticize motos as well as the fact of how motos are known for disobeying traffic rules, scratching cars, and sometimes adding to the problem of insecurity within the city. However, I have to say that myself and many others are still big fans of the motos despite the drawbacks. They are like the key to the city; they connect people in areas near and far in a way that's impressive.
