motorizados

Motorizados is a term used in Spanish-speaking countries to refer to people who use motorized vehicles—primarily motorcycles and motorized scooters—for work or transport, and sometimes to refer collectively to the vehicles themselves. The most common usage describes drivers who provide on-demand passenger service, known as mototaxis or moto taxis, and delivery riders who use motorcycles or scooters to transport goods. The category includes informal workers who operate independently or through platforms, associations, or cooperatives.

In urban areas, motorizados play a significant role in mobility, offering flexible, affordable service, especially in congested cities where car or bus travel is slower. They also face safety and regulatory challenges: licensing and vehicle standards, helmet use, insurance and liability, traffic enforcement, and risks of accidents. Governments and unions have pursued approaches ranging from formal licensing and safety training to integration into official transport systems or platform regulation. The formalization process varies by country and city, often balancing informal livelihoods and road safety concerns.

Economic aspects: motorizados often rely on a low-entry barrier to start work, contributing to the informal economy; earnings depend on demand, duration, and regulation. Social aspects: there are gender and migration dynamics in mototaxi work, with many drivers being men, but increasingly women.

See also mototaxi, motorcycle taxi, delivery rider, micro-mobility.