Buses, Buses, Bogotá
Last week, a friend commented on my blog asking if the TransMilenio is as crazy as this map appears. The answer is yes, no, and I'll explain.
When I arrived in Bogotá, all I knew of the TransMilenio is that is was a bus network that functioned like a metro system. This is due to two main factors: it runs in it's own lanes in the center of the street, and the bus stops are stations when you pay before entering. When I first entered a station, I was instantly confused by the names and quantity of buses that I could take - maybe 10 or 12 options, at 6 platforms. They had names like J74, 8, and B23. I thought they must all go north, so I took one, and it started passing stops, including my destination. So, I got off and took another bus backwards one stop. This is when I started to understand it.
The TransMilenio uses two qualities that buses have to it's advantage, in a way that a rail system cannot. First, the buses can pass stations that have other buses stopped at them. Second, the buses can "switch" from line to line by turning at an intersection. So, for example, instead of being a "red line" train going back and forth, a bus can run part of the red line, part of the blue, and finish on the green. Understandably, that makes it difficult to know which bus numbers (J74, 8, B23) go where. That's where the station guide is helpful. This board will help you only need to look for one bus number.
(Click to enlarge.)
At the top of the ststem map, this rapid guide only shows buses that stop at this station. On each list of stations, it is highlighted in yellow (U. Nacional). Next, you should know where you are going (Av. Suba - Calle 116). In this example, you can find that destination on bus 7, which is a local bus, making every stop. But it is also available on C30 and G30, which are going to skip a lot of other stops, and be a little faster (and less jerks from stopping). These express buses are less frequent than the 7, but are usually worth waiting for. So, you can start walking to vagón 1, and if an uncrowded 7 passes in vagón 2, you have the option to take it.
Vagón: Literally "wagon." This sign has 3 enclosures that buses can stop at. This photo shows 2 vagóns.
This system means that at most stations in the system, you can find a bus that will go where you are going with no transfers. The transit planners of the system have chosen the stop lists to connect commonly used origins and destinations (and prevent over-crowded buses). If every bus was a local, you would see crowding and bus bunching.
Final note: this post doesn't attempt to explain the array of feeder routes than run outside of the dedicated lanes. They use the same fare card, and I used them in my neighborhood. The best way to understand them is to use a smartphone app. The signage at the stops and on the windshield may also name your destination, if it is popular.
Despite the high usage of the TransMilenio and the ciclovía, and the weekday flows of bikes, Bogotanos did complain to me about traffic congestion, and broken infrastructure. But they expressed that they would prefer a metro, and more level bike paths off the sidewalk. The TransMilenio is only 20 years old. Most of the bike paths were built without changing the curbs, in recent decades. When presented like this, the infrastructure was built quickly to meet a need, rather than waiting for something perfect, expensive, and long-term. The next challenge is how to upgrade them (yes, a metro is under construction).
