Metro buses creating city of zombies
DESPITE vast sums of public money that the previous administration spent on improving Panama’s public transportation, many users say the same problems exist, diminishing the quality of life of thousands of Panamanians.
“A city of zombies” was how one user described commuters, who spend hours on public transportation getting to and from work each day, often leaving home before the sun has risen and arriving back at home after it has set.
Users at one station said they have to wait up to an hour for a bus, with lines forming early in the morning says a La Prensa report.
Newsroom has received regular complaints from passengers waiting for Metro buses on the Cinta Costera and other locations who complain of waiting for up to an hour.
Drivers have reported that many Metro buses that started off giving signals and driving with care seem to have reverted to the habits of their predecessors, the Diablos Rojos,
Minister of Government Milton Henríquez rode a Metro Bus this week to verify user complaints.
He said that Panamanians are “wasting their lives due to a transport system that does not meet their needs.”
Diógenes Vergara, chair of the National Assembly’s Transportation Commission. said that Metro operator Mi Bus has enough buses to improve service, but has failed to do so.
User advocate David Ramí¬rez said that the issue of the frequency of service continues to be one of the main complaints of users. He said the initial wait time between buses was supposed to be 15 minutes.
Mi Bus is contractually obligated to improve service, and could face fines levied by the transit agency ATTT if it does not do so.