Politics in Ecuador
In Guayaquil, it seems that politics can be just as robust as they are in Quito.
Recently the city trumpeted their latest innovation in modernizing Guayaquil: The opening of a motorized tram to be known as the Metrovia. In actuality it is merely an oversized, articulated diesel bus that has a special lane just for it and emergency vehicles. Thus it can go very quickly, especially during Guayaquil Centro’s heavy traffic times. The final part is that you only get on the Metrovia at certain stations. You pay at the entrance so you merely get on or off at will, without the conductor or driver collecting money.
In Quito there are three very similar lines. The Ecovia and Metrobus lines are exactly like the Guayaquil Metrovia. The Trolleybus is the same concept but it is electrically powered. They offer fast transportation at a reasonable price ($0.25) and they are very crowded and well accepted.
Guayaquil, is a different story. First, the city closed five bus lines that would compete with the Metrovia. Several neighborhoods, especially some poor neighborhoods, no longer have direct service to the Centro. Instead of having a bus within 1-2 blocks they can hail, they now have to walk 6-10 blocks to get to a Metrovia station.
Then, within the first week of the Metrovia operating there was a tragic accident. A pedestrian, crossing the street, was trying to beat traffic. He dashed to the Metrovia lane and leaped over the low divider, but caught his foot and tumbled flat into the Metrovia Lane, just as a bus came along. He was crushed and killed.
Of course, it wasn’t the Metrovia’s fault, or the bus driver, but that doesn’t matter in politics, does it? The death of the young man became a cause celebre and there have been a series of violent protests, including throwing Molotov cocktails, and the cashiers at the Metrovia Stations being assaulted and threatened. Several people have been injured and a police officer was badly burned when he was hit with a fiery bomb.
All this for a disagreement on bus lines.
More news at eleven.
Recently the city trumpeted their latest innovation in modernizing Guayaquil: The opening of a motorized tram to be known as the Metrovia. In actuality it is merely an oversized, articulated diesel bus that has a special lane just for it and emergency vehicles. Thus it can go very quickly, especially during Guayaquil Centro’s heavy traffic times. The final part is that you only get on the Metrovia at certain stations. You pay at the entrance so you merely get on or off at will, without the conductor or driver collecting money.
In Quito there are three very similar lines. The Ecovia and Metrobus lines are exactly like the Guayaquil Metrovia. The Trolleybus is the same concept but it is electrically powered. They offer fast transportation at a reasonable price ($0.25) and they are very crowded and well accepted.
Guayaquil, is a different story. First, the city closed five bus lines that would compete with the Metrovia. Several neighborhoods, especially some poor neighborhoods, no longer have direct service to the Centro. Instead of having a bus within 1-2 blocks they can hail, they now have to walk 6-10 blocks to get to a Metrovia station.
Then, within the first week of the Metrovia operating there was a tragic accident. A pedestrian, crossing the street, was trying to beat traffic. He dashed to the Metrovia lane and leaped over the low divider, but caught his foot and tumbled flat into the Metrovia Lane, just as a bus came along. He was crushed and killed.
Of course, it wasn’t the Metrovia’s fault, or the bus driver, but that doesn’t matter in politics, does it? The death of the young man became a cause celebre and there have been a series of violent protests, including throwing Molotov cocktails, and the cashiers at the Metrovia Stations being assaulted and threatened. Several people have been injured and a police officer was badly burned when he was hit with a fiery bomb.
All this for a disagreement on bus lines.
More news at eleven.
posted by Unknown at 6:49 PM
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