Governor Talks “Straight” with Pulmonia Drivers

by Maureen Dietrich
25 Apr 15
mazmessenger.com

The Governor warned those who put the port at risk would lose their vehicles and their concessions.

In port yesterday for several official events, Sinaloa Governor Mario López Valdez commented on a demand from pulmonia drivers in Mazatlán that they be given the same consideration as taxi companies with respect to selling their services to cruise ship passengers within the cruise ship docking area.

In an agreement reached between the Secretary of Tourism, tour operators, taxi, pulmonia and Auriga drivers last week, taxi companies were given permission to set up a stand within the passenger landing area. Pulmonia and Auriga drivers must stay on the street outside the gates to offer their services.

Pulmonía drivers said they would not take action against the cruise ship tourists nor initiate another blockade as occurred on April 14, but they would protest in front of the Secretary of Tourism offices if their demands were not met.

In reply to the pulmonia drivers’ demands, the Governor said those who put the port at risk would lose their vehicle, their concession and would be brought before the Ministerio Público charged with damaging the destination.

“Be careful,” he warned, adding he did not want to think about anyone putting the port at risk so that all that was fought for so hard is lost.

He is giving notice and wants to be clear, he said, that it was not easy rescuing the port and recovering cruise ship arrivals. He sent a message through the Secretary of Tourism that they would not investigate who was at fault during any conflict that affects the destination and would seize the vehicles, cancel concessions and charge them with damaging the destination.

(from Noroeste)

Pulmonia History

mexified.com

by Howard 

Mar 20, 2015

On December 20, 1965, this strange cart first made its appearance in the city of Mazatlan.  Mr. Miguel Ramirez Urquijo, better known as “El Chicharo” (or “The Pea” in English) was a stark advocate who did much to develop and popularize these 4-wheeled wonders.   The 60’s marked a time of rapid growth and a tourist boom for Mazatlan, and this impelled “El Chicharo” to seek a means of transport that would appeal to all tourists who visit here. The peculiar characteristics immediately attracted the attention of people from all over. The vehicle would be destined not only to become a new form of public transport, but also a veritable and distinctive icon for the city of Mazatlan.

After only one year, the cart had met such widespread acceptance, that Don Miguel imported an additional 16 vehicles. With the assistance of Governor Alfredo Valdés Montoya, he obtained the necessary permits to officially integrate them into the city’s public transportation service – a decisive point in Pulmonia history.

Although, from its inception, this mode of transport was adored by users, it initially encountered considerable opposition. Criticism and pressure from the taxi unions and bus companies, which resented the sharp decline in their services, launched a smear campaign against this new shuttle.

Certainly, these were tough times, but the stark determination of Don Miguel backed by the support of the new Governor, ensured a steady growth for this over-sized golf cart.  After only 3 years of operation, 100 of these carts were circulating throughout the city.

At the height of the smear campaign, taxi drivers would actually stop people when they tried to approach these strange white vehicles.  They warned that they were very unstable, dangerous, lacked privacy and they risked getting “pneumonia” from being in the open air.

As a result of the opposition, the carts were christened: “Pulmonias”.  The name caught on, and today you’ll see over 300 of them roaming the streets of this wonderful city!

Even Private Transport Raises Prices in Tourist Season

by Maureen Dietrich

21 Jul 14 

mazmessenger.com

 

Reporters from the Spanish daily newspaper Noroeste went under cover to find out what local pulmonia, auriga and taxi drivers are charging as the summer tourist season gets into full swing.

When one reporter asked a taxi driver the fare from Olas Altas to the Liverpool Galerías shopping mall in La Marina, the driver first asked if she was visiting then said it was a long way, finally quoting 150 pesos.

Tourists interviewed said they had paid 200 pesos for a taxi ride from an hotel in Cerritos to the shopping mall or to the convention center. And one tourist from Monterrey thought it was a mistake when a driver charged him 80 pesos to go from the bus station to the corner of Cruz Lizárraga and Av. Del Mar, a very short distance. In Monterrey, he said, private transport is much less expensive.

When contacted Director of Roads and Transport, Domingo Ramírez Armenta, stated people should not pay one peso more than the tariff, the minimum of 40 or 50 pesos and the maximum could rise to 80 pesos. (from Noroeste)