Metro Bus passengers still facing long waits

This week marks two years since  the introduction of Panama’s Metro mass  transit  system and two years of continuous complaints about the lack of frequency of the new fleet of buses.

Maria Atencio, a resident of Pedregal, in the east of the capital, told La Prensa  that she and many of the inhabitants of the area  expect to wait  more than an hour in long lines to board a Metro bus leading to their destinations.

According  to Atencio, the situation is repeated daily,  both going to  work and returning home.

But you don’t have to go out of the city to  hear the complaints, including  30-45 minute waits on the Cinta Costera  ad Cinco e Mayo, long before early morning rush hours,

David Ramirez,  of the  October 23 Movement, there are numerousl users of the new public transport system that have reported  service infrequency in different parts of the capital.

“Some people have reported waiting up to two hours for a bus," said Ramirez.

For three years, the Movement October 23 enabled an office to address complaints and grievances of commuters across the country.

This office has two locations: one is located at the headquarters of the Transit Authority (ATTT) and the second, in the Plaza 5 de Mayo, near the handicraft market.

"We have no coercive power, but we have the moral power to submit written complaints to the authorities of the ATTT, and the My Bus company My Bus" he said.

 Ramirez  says citizens should not remain quiet but  express their dissatisfaction for the service through the offices, the web site www.movimiento23deoctubre.com  and through Facebook, Blue Hearts Panama.

"We cater to transit users, because when they go to institutions they are not  treated cordially