QCOSTARICA – Opting for a “bicimoto” (moped), in many cases motorcycles disguised as bicycles, has become a dangerous trend in Costa Rica.
Drivers of bicimotos, vehicles with both bicycle pedals and a motorcycle engine (electric or gasoline) do not need a license, pay the marchamo (circulation permit), or submit to the annual vehicular inspection.
This, regardless of the danger to which they are exposed and the vehicle they drive on a regular basis is associated with 50% of traffic accident deaths in 2023, the second-worst record of deaths from traffic accidents in the last ten years.
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According to the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ), the last two years marked a notable growth in the number of people killed in road accidents, which unlike the Traffic Police (Policia de Transito), does follow up on people who are badly injured and die in hospital after a traffic accident.
The answer is the regulation of “motorcycles disguised as bicycles”. However, the decision is controversial, there is the question of placing road safety versus employment on the balance.
The Consejo de Seguridad Vial (Cosevi) – Road Safety Council, a dependency of the Ministerio de Obras Publicas y Transportes (MOPT), with independence in its administrative functioning, considers that the “socioeconomic impact” of imposing requirements on this type of vehicles must be taken into account.
Cindy Coto, executive director of Cosevi, stated that an analysis of the issue has been carried out and that the government’s resolution will be announced soon.
It is important to note that Cosevi has for more than two years been evaluating the issue.
On the other hand, in recent days, Mauricio Batalla, minister of the MOPT, asserted that bureaucratic requirements cannot put at risk the employment of some 10,000 people and the livelihood of approximately 40,000 people overall who depend on this mode of transportation.
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“By having to pay the Marchamo, vehicular technical inspections and other requirements on a bicycle that goes at 20 or 30 kilometers per hour, what we do is remove 10,000 from the Costa Rican labor market who make a living from food delivery and apps,” Batalla said.
Current law
Currently, the Ley de Transito (Traffic Law) establishes that any 2-wheeled vehicle that has pedals is a bicycle, regardless of whether they are electro-assisted or run on gasoline.
In the last 18 months, there has been an exponential growth in number of these types of vehicles on the streets, partly due to the low cost, under ¢500,000 colones in some cases, and lack of requirement of having to have a license, pay a circulation permit and submit to a vehicular inspection.
Likewise, thousands thanks to the foregoing have found work thanks to food delivery applications such as Uber Eats, DiDi, and Pedidos Ya, powered by these vehicles.
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However, the government’s position is strongly criticized by experts in sustainable mobility.
This is a kind of double standard in terms of road safety, since access to work is being placed above life.
“Given the scarcity of job opportunities, many people have chosen this option for different reasons. As this is something inevitable and will continue to grow, what should be done is guarantee the best conditions for those who are dedicated to delivering products through the apps. Doing nothing and leaving everything as it is at this point is irresponsible,” Roberto Guzmán of the Chepecletas collective told La Republica.
The concern is due to the fact that Costa Rica is literally experiencing a bloodbath due to traffic accidents.
In 2022, there were 847 people killed due to a crash, rollover, or excessive speed, among other causes, while last year, the figure rose to 855, according to statistics from the OIJ.
“What we should do as a country is focus on what type of vehicles we allow to be imported and operated here. Those bikes with pedals should be banned altogether because those pedals are only there to circumvent the regulations. In this way, delivery drivers would be forced to use real bicycles, or invest in motorcycles and comply with the law,” said David Gómez, Sustainable Mobility consultant.
The delivery companies reply that all delivery drivers have insurance and that they have to abide by any provisions established by the government.
What are the differences between mopeds and motorized bicycles? (According to current legislation)
Bicycle with a motor (moped)
- Human-powered vehicle, using pedals.
- It’s still a bicycle as long as you can pedal it.
- No license is required.
- No bicycle, even if motor-assisted, is classified as a motorcycle.
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