Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In small towns, nay in all towns, traffic lights - when working - are frequently ignored, though you
should plan to stop at them. Watch what other drivers are doing - if everyone is going through, you probably
should, too, as it can be even more dangerous to stop if the cars behind you aren't expecting it. Many city
streets are one way and often poorly marked, creating yet another hazard. Often, in lieu of stop signs, cul-
verts (basically, the opposite of speed bumps), deep enough to damage the undersides of low clearance
vehicles unless taken at the slowest of speeds, signal stops. Prohibitions against drinking and driving are
widely flouted and it's not uncommon to spot a speeding motorcyclist sipping rum.
Hitchhiking
Though hitchhiking is never entirely safe anywhere in the world, Dominicans, both men and women, hitch
all the time, especially in rural areas where fewer people have cars and
guagua
service is sparse. It's also
common in resort areas like Bávaro, where a large number of workers commute to Higüey or other towns
nearby every morning and evening. That said, it is rare to see foreigners hitchhiking, and doing so (espe-
cially if you have bags) carries a greater risk than for locals.
Local Transportation
Bus
Large cities like Santo Domingo and Santiago have public bus systems that operate as they do in most
places around the world. Many of the larger city buses are imported from Brazil, and are the kind which you
board in the back and pay the person sitting beside the turnstile. Other city buses are more or less like
guaguas,
where you board quickly and pay the
cobrador
when he comes around. In general, you will prob-
ably take relatively few city buses, simply because
públicos
follow pretty much the same routes and pass
more frequently.
Metro
Santo Domingo has a metro system that is continuing to expand.
Motoconcho
Cheaper and easier to find than taxis,
motoconchos
(motorcycle taxis) are the best, and sometimes only, way
to get around in many towns. An average ride should set you back no more than RD$30. That being said,
you might have to negotiate to get a fair price and we've heard of travelers unknowingly dropped off far
short of their intended location. Accidents resulting in injuries and even deaths are not uncommon; ask the
driver to slow down
(¡Más despacio por favor!)
if you think he's driving dangerously. Avoid two passengers
on a bike since not only is the price the same as taking separate bikes but the extra weight makes scooters
harder to control. For longer trips, or if you have any sort of bag or luggage,
motoconchos
are usually im-
