Ten years ago, Bogota implemented a new bus rapid transit (BRT) system. Today, 1.7 million people use the extremely successful TransMilenio daily, boarding the buses at one of 104 stations.
Thanks to dedicated bus lanes, most passengers have seen their commutes decrease by 40 minutes a day. The eco-friendly option — cheaper and more flexible than both subways and above-ground light rail, TreeHugger claims — has decreased congestion in the capital city and has helped carbon emissions drop 98 per cent from 10 year ago.
Streetfilms looks at TransMilenio's success and future plans in the short film below.
No, it's not perfect. TransMilenio's buses are full — on every trip. And the system needs to expand further, increasing coverage to better cater to passengers' needs.
Still, it's nice to know there's hope for the daily commute.
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