Motoboy is a new profession that has popped up in Brasil over the last couple of decades. Its a courier service that uses small bikes with under 250cc engines to transport anything arcoss traffic infested cities. They truely can deliever anything for a price, as long as it fits on teh back of a motorcycle. The main things they deliever are pizza's, fast food, documents, and payment reciepts. I have a friend from San Paulo and he lives here now, but he said the motoboy culture is definiately one that is from the streets, he told me stories of bargaining with motoboy's on the street for a ride up to a soccer game for 50 cents. You just jump on the back and they will have you there the fastest possible way in over populated, crowded cities. I don't think the Motoboy is liked by the average middle class brasilian. Although they live in the streets all day, by their motorbikes, they have their own distinct culture with-in brasil. They even have their own way of speaking and jargon that most brasilians like to joke and make fun of. Here are some words made famous by the motoboys:
- Cachorro louco (crazy dog): feared motoboy that rides daringly through traffic and becomes a danger to himself and other motoboys.
- Comprar chão ou comprar terreno: to fall off the bike.
- Sem terra (without land): someone that never had to ‘comprar chão’.
- Corredor (hallway): the space between the cars through which the motoboys pass.
Moto boys will pass on the right, go up on sidewalks, go against traffic or cut thru gas stations, with very little respect for other drivers. I believe they do these dangerous manuvers to do the best job they can, in order to provide for families and themselfs. They are envolved in a alot of accidents, I found soem figures online that said about one dies everyday. If you watch the way they drive, thru the tight spaces, you would believe the death toll would be higher. The reason I see so many youth's getting into this profession in brasil is because the cost of using the bus for a month is equal to the monthly payment of a motocycle, and they can begin to make money too
this is a comic making fun of the motoboy culture
and here is a clip of them on the job:
Mexico has a vast number of people who either ride their bikes, walk, or use motor transportation as a means of getting to places. Mexico City is Mexico's capital and the world's largest city, and what comes with the world's largest city is lots of cars! Mexico City has many people who use walking as a means of transportation, but cars are popular too, especially for tourist.
ReplyDeleteThis article remains me the poorest country in Central America, Honduras. I think some poor Hondurans even can't afford to buy a bicycles.
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