Day two, a city "paro"lizado

from El Tiempo

The ironies of the bus strike continue: apparently the union (Apetrans) organizing the current paro also ordered strikes to protest:

1. Bogota's world-renowned Car-free Day
   
2. Pico y Placa, the system by which the number of vehicles on the road are regulated by license number and day of the week
3. TransMilenio, Bogota's also world-renowned bus rapid transit system, which although not perfect has decreased the dangerous levels of air pollution in the city and benefitted millions of people on their daily journeys

Not the best record in town. El Tiempo editorial today: Chataje en las calles (Blackmail in the streets). This time around the union president said the paro is to protest:

1. "Pico y Placa ambiental," a program that among other requirements, will take buses older than 10 years off the roads. [This has been talked about for years with no results. The majority of Bogota's microbus stock is around 12 years old. ]
   
2. The shutting down of routes for no reason [they are being shut down on routes that TM now covers]
3. Persecution by the Transit Police [I can't comment on this as I've never seen it, but I have seen buses involved in hit and runs, as well as buses whose passengers have fallen off simply speed away].
   

Yet at the same time, the immediate human costs of the city's efforts to modernize public transportation are pressing. The union represents almost 25,000 owner/operators and bus companies, most of whom are afraid they will lose their livelihood. In contrast, 9 familes are responsible for the operation of TransMilenio's buses. They are selected through a competitive bidding process (supposedly at least) and are paid by the kilometer covered, not by the passenger.

I don't have any answers, but I do have questions:

1. Why not require the companies that run TransMilenio to hire the soon-to-be out of work bus owners/operators (many own the buses they drive)?
2. How will a successful strike, as measured by the economic damage being evinced, affect the union's bargaining position? Will it simply harden public sentiment against the busetas, already fairly unpopular for their contributions to pollution, congestion, and traffic accidents?
   
3. How long will the city, TM, and the microbuses continue this struggle for the city's transportation needs? Will it continue down to the last buseta? Is there a place for busetas in the city's long-range transit plans?
   

I'm probably boring to death the four or so people who read this blog, so I'll stop now...after one more question: how can the paro of microbuses in Bogota be compared with the "Day without an immigrant" strikes in the US? The city cannot, as it currently exists, function without the busetas. They are simply the most integral part of the public transportation system, which 80% of Bogotanos depend on to get around. Immigrants, similarly, are the quiet engine driving the US economy, in the eyes of many. Maybe efforts to standardize public transportation in Bogota share common goals and growing pains with efforts to standardize immigration in the United States?

Bogota transportation and environment links:

• BiciBogota: http://www.bicibogota.co
• TransMilenio SA: http://www.transmilenio.gov.co/
• Secretaria of Transit: http://www.transitobogota.gov.co/
• A Human City: http://www.ciudadhumana.org/principal.htm (organize Night Rides)