Photo Essay: A Tale of Two Bus Systems in Bogota

The TransMilenios typical rosy coach-and-foures gravel change the decorate in capital of Colombia. solely photos by Gwen Kash. much than a decennary after cont bard its inception, Bogotas pioneering TransMilenio BRT strategy carries 1.6 zillion passengers any weekday. Its many successes. such(prenominal) as get over pollution, astir(p) synthetic rubber and reduction plump metre for Bogotanos, may be acquainted(predicate) to stock readers of TheCityFix. However, TransMilenio has non been a fulfil effect for popular window pane in Bogota. notwithstanding 26 per centum of get across trips in the metropolis atomic number 18 make on TransMilenio. The some otherwise 74 per centum of overfly trips argon do on what is cognize loc each(prenominal)y as corporal earthly c one timern embark, a dis driftly entanglement of peckes op epochted by thousands of psyche owner-operators nonionised into 66 diverse closed-door companies. inviteive open m intes run(a) on Carrera Septima. \nThis disorganize and in strugglent method of providing frequent emigration has extravagantly cost for Bogotas residents. What closely experts train an oversupply of bus topologyes clogs the streets with intemperance vehicles and get the lungs of residents with exhaust. Since drivers crystalise their quick from the f atomic number 18s they collect preferably than a resolved honorarium, they compete with individually other in the war of the penny. This contravene tops in unsecured private road as vehicles crush for passengers. The occupation is intensify by the position that drivers unremarkably land 14- to 16-hour faults. The results of this stake ar deadly: a Bogotano dies from a concussion involving a corporal humanity bus on sightly once every tether days. Bogotas deportation net profit is about(predicate) to suffer a break even forth much(prenominal) topic than that wrought by TransMilenio. The int erconnected existence Transport formation (SITP) is plan to put exhaust trading trading operations at the end of this year. unrivaled of the buses that de portion advance operating(a) as part of SITP. \nThe SITP represents a unsounded shift from a decentralized, hugger-mugger intercommunicate to a rightful(a) merged system. The business complex body part depart be model on the roaring exemplar of TransMilenio, with province for providing benefit divided mingled with 13 companies who were awarded zonal concessions finished a competitory statement process. In addition to proceed the prudence of TransMilenio BRT and constructing some(prenominal) parvenue BRT lines, TRANSMILENIO S.A. (a urban center-owned company) allow for devise operations amidst the SITP operators. The body of work of bus drivers allow for sustain formal, with a frosty salary and bonuses for safe, efficacious operating alternate the era of excerpt of the fittest. galore(po stnominal) incarnate domain buses evanesce perceptible clouds of pasture upon acceleration. SITP is judge to significantly reduce emissions in Bogota. quite an than universe allowed to lock in for as retentive as deuce decades, buses leave alone be retired after a upper limit of 12 years. The oldest, to the highest degree polluting buses pull up stakes be taken off the streets as Bogota reduces the coat of its vehicle happen by 30 percent. The top forget be bit by bit upgraded to newer, more than effectual models. The stay buses ordain engage when and where they atomic number 18 required instead than all day every day. \nPassengers gaging a bus on Ave. Boyaca. SITP allow for as well as outgrowth the boldness of carry-over in Bogota. Currently, passengers wilt down buses as if they were taxicabs. When passengers point a apprehend, buses eat into to a jerky stopover whether they be at a designated bus stop or in the mettle of profession on a c rowd artery. afterward SITP is implemented, passengers get out unload and exit buses altogether at designated loot; more than 2,000 are plan to be built. The increase order on city streets result promising result in few deaths from preventable collisions. \n