Motorcycle Taxis and Survival
In no rule of law does poverty justify breaking the law; however, societies that combat poverty by strengthening justice prevent crimes but never justify them. In the law of the hustle, a lifeline for swarms of idle hands, motorcycle taxiing emerges as a labor and transportation solution for vulnerable strata of cities and towns, refusing to respect traffic rules, a huge public health challenge, with alarming figures comparable to cancer: 10 million deaths annually, while infectious diseases cause devastating epidemics that medical science controlled using vaccines, crippling smallpox, measles, and a dozen infectious diseases causing death, pain, and tears.
TL;DR
- Motorcycle taxiing is a means of survival for many, especially vulnerable populations displaced by violence and lack of opportunities.
- Motorcycle taxi accidents cause a significant number of deaths and injuries worldwide, exceeding those from cancer and infectious diseases.
- The disregard for traffic rules by motorcycle taxis is a major public health challenge.
- Authorities face difficulties in controlling the phenomenon, which has become a 'daily tragedy'.
- In Cartagena, motorcycle accidents accounted for 95% of 117 traffic fatalities in recent months.
- The article suggests the need for alternative legal work options for those relying on motorcycle taxiing for survival.