Ridin' in Style...Dominican Style

My second year in the DR has increased my independence, so I'm learning all about ways to get out and about. Not many people own vehicles, so public transport is the option of the day! You can always call a taxi, but you don't have to as long as you've got a handle on the cars.

Ohhh G cars. And M cars. And CJ cars-- public transportation options known as carros públicos, or conchos, which run on routes like buses for cheap rates, will pick you up at any point along their route, and have no limitations on the number of passengers they carry. Literally. If you can still see an empty lap, the car's not full yet!  

Where these:

Get you this:

Possibly with them:

And maybe with them:

Hopefully with her!

But most importantly, they get you where you're going.The best part of this mode of transportation is that it's cheap ($20 DOP = $.44 US) and gets you from point A to point B and you don't have to walk. Upon further consideration, I must also point out that these are also the only good parts about it unless you include "it's always an adventure" on your list of assets.

The first question: Is it safe? There are stories of crazy drivers (but every driver here is crazy) and pickpockets riding a little too close to unsuspecting passengers, and you will end up having to walk a bit (possibly through doubtful territory) to connect the car route with your destination. However, if you follow proper Public Car Protocol (ie, don't pull out your cell phone, don't keep money in your pocket, avoid using the cars after dark) chances are good you'll avoid incident and be just fine.


To give credit where it's due, I have to say that the best photos here came from a Google search of "Dominican conchos"-- which I highly recommend you look up yourself because some of those pics are just mindblowing. It's kinda awesome... and one of those thing's that's pretty darn Dominican.

And however squished your concho ride might be today, just remember: it could always be worse!