TransMilenio

After experiencing the great Metro system in Medellin, Daniel and I were anxious to try out the mass transit system in Bogota.

We had to get to the train station to buy tickets for the steam train to Zipaquira on Sunday (!) so we decided to take the TransMilenio, as it's called.

The TransMilenio was the brainchild of Enrique Penalosa, the "green" mayor of Bogota from 1998 to 2001. He apparently nixed the idea of an expensive light rail system like Medellin's, and opted instead for express buses running on dedicated lanes. You get on at stations where you pay your fare (about a buck). The buses only stop at the stations.

What makes it work well is that there are a lot of buses, about 1,500 of them. The system is well used. On major arterials, cars are relegated to the lanes near the curb.

I'm sure this was a lot cheaper to build than a metro system like Medellin's and it seems to move a lot of people. A really smart solution.

I read that Penalosa made improving the public library system here a high priority of his administration.

Way to go Enrique!