Protesting Against Progress

Protesters charge that the new public transit arrangement will raise charges for users. That may be true, but is a problem of design, not the concept. 

A few dozen people marched today down Seventh Ave. protesting against the planned Integrated System of Public Transit, or SITP, which is supposed to coordinate the existing TransMilenio system, private buses, planned subway and other transit systems.

It's a clear necessity, as a glance at Bogotá's chaos and traffic jams will show. But as the reforms remove some old buses from the streets - which is a necessity - some people will lose incomes. And those people are protesting to keep the existing, dysfunctional system in place.

'Higher bus fares, more crowded buses, more unemployment.'

Also out demonstrating, and with good reason, were the Bicitaxistas, the operators of big pedicabs. Altho they fill a great need, don't pollute and contribute little to traffic congestion, these vehicles aren't legal, and police sometimes confisticate them from their owners. Why doesn't this change? The only reason I can think of is political pressure by owners of the regular, polluting, traffic-jamming taxis, who fear losing business.

'We demand that they let us work!'

Finally, a few shots I took today of the existing, inefficient, terribly polluting bus system, which today's marchers are defending:

Chronic congestion on Carrera 10. When will the TransMilenio line finally start functioning here?

 

With traffic at a standstill, this guy used time to wash his bus. 

It's not often that you capture two buses side by side belching different colored smoke.

This man apparently decided he'd move faster on foot. 

The other day El Tiempo observed that the old buses poison us with their fumes 'with total impunity.'

A cyclist rolls past cars. 

A woman covers her mouth against bus fumes. 

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours

Scenes from Today's Protest March

Marching schoolteachers fill Seventh Ave. 

I'd heard that today's protest was to be by teachers. But, as always seems to happen, lots of other groups leapt in. The most colorful, in appearance at least, were the bicitaxistas. These guys carry people for short distances in their pedicabs and so provide an excellent, inexpensive service that doesn't pollute and reduces traffic congestion. 

Colorful pedicabs on Plaza Bolivar.

But, bicitaxis are actually illegal - a situation supported by the drivers of regular, carbon-powered taxis, which do pollute and do cause lots of congestion, but see the pedicabs as competition. Today, the bicitaxistas protested against police harrasment and even confistication of their vehicles. It's a classic case of powerful vested interests blocking a better solution.

Protesters carry a Colombian flag.

Pedicabs in front of the Justice Palace.

A local government office, still decorated by paint balls from last year's protests.

Red students. 

No to the justice reform.

Riot police wait. The protest was mostly peaceful, and they didn't have much to do. 

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours