Public Transportation in Bogotá
Bogotá, Colombia, is a city of almost 8 million inhabitants. Very limited urban planning and a historic lack of infrastructure development resulted in public transit woes. Getting around in Bogotá can be tough, but the city has done a great job in recent years in improving public transportation and making the city more navigable.
Here are some ways that people get around in Bogotá.
Cars
Due to a rise in the Colombian middle class, there are more cars on the roads than ever, but Colombia’s underdeveloped roadways were not prepared for the large increase in cars on the road in recent years. Rush hour traffic is incredibly heavy and the roadways are inadequately often confusing and poorly maintained.
To curb the problem of congestion, the municipal government instituted pico y placa, a law restricting cars on the road by liscence plate numbers. For example, cars with plate numbers ending in odd numbers are not allowed on the roads from 6-9am and 4-7pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and cars with plate numbers ending in even numbers are not allowed on the roads on Tuesday and Thursday during those times. This has cut back on traffic, but travelling by car in Bogotá can still take forever!
Colectivos
The streets of Bogotá are chalk full of these small, privately-owned busses. These busses are the personal business ventures of their drivers, who set their routes and schedules independent of any regulating authority. Drivers post their routes in the front window of their buses and pedestrians line the streets to squint at them as the colectivos approach. If manage to discern that the bus is going their way, the pedestrian will flag down the bus with a raised hand and the bus driver stops the bus as close to the pedestrian as possible to pick them up. It’s incredibly disorganized, a virtual entrepreneurial free-for-all on wheels, but somehow, it works! The majority of Bogotá’s lower classes get around on this system, which only veteran city-dwellers can understand but connects the entire city for 1,250 (about 60¢) pesos per trip.
Taxis
Taxis are just as common as busses in Bogotá, but are much more convenient (and expensive). Hailing a taxi on the street is not a safe option, because taxi drivers have been known to be connected to street thieves. A dubious taxi driver will pick up a passenger from the curb and drive him/her a few blocks to where his accomplises are waiting, who are armed with knives or guns, and they will board the taxi to mug the passenger, often forcing the unfortunate passenger to take out more money at a nearby ATM. This is known ironically as the paseo millonario, or “Millionaire trip.”
However, unlike colectivos, taxis all belong to a certain company. You can call the company and ask for a taxi to pick you up at you house, which is completely safe. The company also controls the meter and fees the taxis charge. A medium-length trip will cost around 10,000 pesos ($5).
TransMilenio
Bogotá developed began construction of the TransMilenio, a dedicated bus lane, in 1999 (hence the name commemorating passage into the new millenium.) Apparently, a Japanese company presented a plan to the muncipal government for a traditional metro system, but the city decided against it in favor of an easier to expand, more cost-effective system.
The TransMilenio functions like a metro; there are stations along major roads where passengers buy tickets and board. A single bus can carry close to 200 people and travels at a top speed of 80 km/h (about 50 mph) through the city. It’s an extremely cost efficient and cost-effective way to get around, but the TransMilenio can get extremely packed during rush hour. Fortunately, the commute will be quick.
Also, as part of the TransMilenio, more pedestrian bridges are built across busy roads, making pedestrian traffic more accessible.
Cicloruta
Biking in Bogotá can be difficult. The sidewalks are often inadequate, and riding in the road is almost suicidal. That’s why the municipal government began putting in the ciclorutas (bike routes). In many places, they are a small sidewalk expansion for bicycle traffic, but they frequently deviate from the busier streets to wind through parks and green areas to provide a faster and more pleasant commute. These routes provide a safe space for cyclists to get around the city.
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