Medellin, Bogota, and Curitiba. If you're an avid follower of urban transportation trends in cities, then you would know that Latin America, particularly the three cities I just listed, are hallmarks of inclusive transportation planning. These cities focus on accessibility, physical, socioeconomic, and geographic, servicing all kinds of citizens and enabling mobility across large metropolitan regions. They are also the pilot cities for concepts like rapid bus transit, Ciclovia, and urban acupuncture. Today's blog post looks at a few interesting urban transportation features I found while on an excursion through Colombia this summer.
The Moto Bruja (San Cipriano)
Referred to by locals as the "motorcyle witch", this object of human ingenuity connects highway accessible locations to more remote villages. Imagine a 'magic carpet' (actually, just a wooden board with makeshift seating powered by a motorcycle) that zips through the rainforest on well-maintained train tracks. I was taken to ride the motobruja by two friends from Cali on a surprise ecotourism adventure in the windward of the Andes Occidental. It felt like being on one of those Universal Studios rides through a simulated Jurassic Park, except the people on the vehicle with you were actually commuting from village to village and the driver is some teenager, getting the thrill of speeding down existing railroad tracks. Tourists visit the remote areas to wade in the river, jump from cliffs, hike the waterfalls, or enjoy a home cooked "cazuela de mariscos" with fish caught fresh from the river. Tourism is frequent and predictable; thus, the systems is paid for by visitors who subsidize the gasoline costs for the locals, who basically hop on and off for free. Although the ride is not for the risk-averse, it was like the most exciting sccene in an Indiana Jones film; we moved so quickly through dense vegetation, ricketing across flimsy bridges and through pitch black tunnels, with exotic bugs hitting my face. The motorcycle engine crackled and you never knew when a train would turn around the corner, but it was well worth the risk. Here is an example where transport, albeit informal and unregulated, meets the mobility needs of rural locals and adventure seekers alike. Plus, it makes for an intensely memorable travel experience.
Cirque du Soleil at Street Crossings (Cali)
In the U.S., Canada, and parts of Europe, places I've lived, streets and their intersections are known to be highly regulated spaces. However, in Cali, the wait at each intersection becomes the stage for a 2 minute circus act. In my total driving experience in Cali, I witnessed juggling, at times with fire, optical illusion entertainment, and break dancing. Local artists have a location to display their talent, or earn a few tips, while drivers are able to cope more easily with stop and go traffic on their commute to and home from work.
The Teleferico (Cali and Medellin)
In the Global North, we know gondola transport from ski resorts or reaching high elevation viewpoints. Latin America has set an example in the democratization of trasnport, putting a utilitarian spin on gondola transit. Gondolas, known in Spanish as "telefericos" meet the practical needs of workers living in distant 'invasiones' (a politically incorrect term to refer to the informal settlements often tucked away in the hills), by helping them access work and commercial services in the downtown areas. These areas are often laden with crime and poverty, thus lacking proper road infrastructure and a safe commuting route. In addition, the gondola gives locals living outside of these communities more perspective on the highly visible socioeconomic divisions and the sheer scale of these informal settlements compared to the entire built areas of the city. My friend, who lived in a comparatively higher income area, and I felt safe to see how the reality of how the majority of Colombians live from a close up bird's eye view. We could see the crooked streets, the clothes hanging to dry from the balconies, the patched up rooves, occasional murals demonstrating civic pride in the community and for their country.
The Moto Bruja (San Cipriano)
Referred to by locals as the "motorcyle witch", this object of human ingenuity connects highway accessible locations to more remote villages. Imagine a 'magic carpet' (actually, just a wooden board with makeshift seating powered by a motorcycle) that zips through the rainforest on well-maintained train tracks. I was taken to ride the motobruja by two friends from Cali on a surprise ecotourism adventure in the windward of the Andes Occidental. It felt like being on one of those Universal Studios rides through a simulated Jurassic Park, except the people on the vehicle with you were actually commuting from village to village and the driver is some teenager, getting the thrill of speeding down existing railroad tracks. Tourists visit the remote areas to wade in the river, jump from cliffs, hike the waterfalls, or enjoy a home cooked "cazuela de mariscos" with fish caught fresh from the river. Tourism is frequent and predictable; thus, the systems is paid for by visitors who subsidize the gasoline costs for the locals, who basically hop on and off for free. Although the ride is not for the risk-averse, it was like the most exciting sccene in an Indiana Jones film; we moved so quickly through dense vegetation, ricketing across flimsy bridges and through pitch black tunnels, with exotic bugs hitting my face. The motorcycle engine crackled and you never knew when a train would turn around the corner, but it was well worth the risk. Here is an example where transport, albeit informal and unregulated, meets the mobility needs of rural locals and adventure seekers alike. Plus, it makes for an intensely memorable travel experience.
Cirque du Soleil at Street Crossings (Cali)
In the U.S., Canada, and parts of Europe, places I've lived, streets and their intersections are known to be highly regulated spaces. However, in Cali, the wait at each intersection becomes the stage for a 2 minute circus act. In my total driving experience in Cali, I witnessed juggling, at times with fire, optical illusion entertainment, and break dancing. Local artists have a location to display their talent, or earn a few tips, while drivers are able to cope more easily with stop and go traffic on their commute to and home from work.
The Teleferico (Cali and Medellin)
In the Global North, we know gondola transport from ski resorts or reaching high elevation viewpoints. Latin America has set an example in the democratization of trasnport, putting a utilitarian spin on gondola transit. Gondolas, known in Spanish as "telefericos" meet the practical needs of workers living in distant 'invasiones' (a politically incorrect term to refer to the informal settlements often tucked away in the hills), by helping them access work and commercial services in the downtown areas. These areas are often laden with crime and poverty, thus lacking proper road infrastructure and a safe commuting route. In addition, the gondola gives locals living outside of these communities more perspective on the highly visible socioeconomic divisions and the sheer scale of these informal settlements compared to the entire built areas of the city. My friend, who lived in a comparatively higher income area, and I felt safe to see how the reality of how the majority of Colombians live from a close up bird's eye view. We could see the crooked streets, the clothes hanging to dry from the balconies, the patched up rooves, occasional murals demonstrating civic pride in the community and for their country.
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