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.
