Colombian buses kinda suck - not sure why

miamimike says on Sep 15, 2008, 15:23:

I'd take them here in Miami anyday, esp the Transmilenio Bus system and its cheap fares.Not to mention, City Buses on the mainlines come and go every 5 minutes.

On Sept 17, 2008: Senator John McCain said, as he had many times before, that he believed the fundamentals of the economy were "strong."Hours later he backpedaled, explaining that he had meant that American workers were Strong.

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Simon says on Sep 15, 2008, 15:46:

(comment deleted) not need to be so rude.

"DON'T FOK WITH COLOMBIA!!"-----Simon

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davidslc46 says on Sep 15, 2008, 15:54:

Bro,

Compared to Panama buses they are so much better. Likewise the Taxis



David

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Simon says on Sep 15, 2008, 16:32:

Hey, guess what I discovered....freedom of speech no longer exists on PBH!

But is certainly does exist for those who want to bash Colombians!

"DON'T FOK WITH COLOMBIA!!"-----Simon

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miamimike says on Sep 15, 2008, 16:49:

Simon,in your "allegations" care to cite us specific times, dates and Posters?

On Sept 17, 2008: Senator John McCain said, as he had many times before, that he believed the fundamentals of the economy were "strong."Hours later he backpedaled, explaining that he had meant that American workers were Strong.

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Simon says on Sep 15, 2008, 16:49:

It was the freaking moderator.

"DON'T FOK WITH COLOMBIA!!"-----Simon

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miamimike says on Sep 15, 2008, 16:53:

Next time you need to say so as others on this Thread may think you are referring to them!

On Sept 17, 2008: Senator John McCain said, as he had many times before, that he believed the fundamentals of the economy were "strong."Hours later he backpedaled, explaining that he had meant that American workers were Strong.

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vicshere says on Sep 15, 2008, 19:21:

i thought rude comments were ok...hey wasss up with that

listo

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manINred says on Sep 15, 2008, 19:26:

One of the main reasons is the risk that bus companies have faced over the past two decades. They have had to travel routes ridden by guerrilla, armed bandits, basically anarchical routes. The buses would sometimes be torched, stolen, or at least abused.

Companies could not afford to sink millions into state of the art buses, as indeed many of the higher classes simply refuse to travel overland on long-haul journeys.

Granted, the situation is getting better, and bus travel is becoming safer (by day) but there are still problems that bus companies continue to face.

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Cheers Terry says on Sep 15, 2008, 20:07:

That makes sense.

Cheers,
Terry

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morphus says on Sep 15, 2008, 21:21:

The bus I took from Cartagena to Medellin was'nt bad. Local buses in Colombia are a different story though. Bogota is the worse.

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papiChulo says on Sep 15, 2008, 21:32:

at least they (colombians) don't carve you up and eat you on the bus.

some of the rudest people I know don't smoke

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bickerss says on Sep 15, 2008, 22:17:

The luxury buses (with hosty, sleeper chairs etc) in Peru / Brazil / Panama are awsome, however they seem to cater more to the Gringos and have come about (maybe) due to the extensive tourist trade. Colombia may expand its bus network to cater to luxury travel once the tourist boom really hits.

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La_Huella says on Sep 15, 2008, 22:25:

All the major bus routes in Colombia have those recliner seats.

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bickerss says on Sep 15, 2008, 22:42:

Not the ones that convert into almost a full bed, unless I have missed a major bus company.

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morphus says on Sep 16, 2008, 01:11:

No sense complaining about something thats free.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Sep 16, 2008, 04:40:

Simon says on Sep 15, 2008, 16:32: flag

Hey, guess what I discovered....freedom of speech no longer exists on PBH!

But is certainly does exist for those who want to bash Colombians!


Simon, freedom of spech does exit, but insulting other poster is again the rules.

he is not bashing Colombia, he is pointing out something he does not like about Colombia like many us do, but don't need to insult him, perhaps we can give our points of view and opinions without lowering ourselves to certain standards. we don't need to be aggressive to show our points of views, i think we loose credit, (well that's what i think)

regards
kat1 (freaking mod)

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tomtom33 says on Sep 16, 2008, 05:03:

Thin skins(Simon) often overreact in inappropriate ways.

Way to go Kat.

Believe it or not, Simon, Colombia is not perfect. We should be able to discuss those imperfections without you jumping down our throats.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Sep 16, 2008, 05:29:

jack_jason says on Sep 16 (today): flag

But when South Americans discuss some imperfections about usa, every yankee jumps down on them. Life is a two ways street.
not many, they even join them :)) apart from GIB of course :))

I have never been in a bus in Peru, but as far as i concern there are comfortable buses in Colombia as well as uncomfortable, when i went to Cartagena i traveled with Berlinas del fonce, it was very comfortable bus, but on the way back i travel with Ecopetran and that was a very uncomfortable bus, it looked good from the outside but inside everything was damage, the chairs didn't recline properly and the air conditioning didn't work sometimes.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Sep 16, 2008, 05:31:

now if we are talking about buses inside the city, i find all of them uncomfortable here and in cafarnaum

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tomtom33 says on Sep 16, 2008, 05:35:

Jack, this is a site about Colombia, not the US. Feel free to discuss the imperfections of the US on the appropriate site or in off topic. I will challenge you if I feel that you are not correct, but I rarely jump down anyone's throat.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Sep 16, 2008, 06:04:

pa' que vea, ese bus si era un perolero y eso que se veia todo elegante. claro eso fue el año pasado como en Agosto, este año me regrese en avion . mas comodo :)))

No pero Ecopetran antes tenia unos peroleros bien feos ahora estan un poquito mas refinados, lo que pasa es que se criaron fama de mochileros jejeje pero los busesitos no estan mal :)))

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Sep 16, 2008, 06:10:

vealos y hasta con gringa incorporada eh?

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paisa29 says on Sep 16, 2008, 06:30:

I hated the buses in Peru in my last trip, they were so dirty, they offered us coche-cama
but it wasn´t like that and they didn´t have heater or was broken so they put the
air conditioner instead... even with the freaking cold.

"Why the buses in Colombia are worse than buses in poorer countries like Peru? For example, Cruz del Sur and other Peruvian companies offer cama-cama routes ( basically, oversized chairs that recline further back, analogous to first class in a plane)."

"Fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality" Conrad Hilton

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tomass says on Sep 16, 2008, 07:16:

Iam amazed theres not more accidents. Especially the older person getting on and trying to hold on with one hand and shopping in the other and bending forward to pay the driver and the bus has already lurched off and she still has to find her way to a seat (if there is one, or if someone will offer their seat - rarely the jovenes, more likely some slightly younger mum).. with the bus flying helter-skelter and then theres the stops ! - obviously the bus companies dont run the risk of getting sued - many of the drivers in med are pretty manic

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Mononoke28 says on Sep 16, 2008, 09:33:

I looooooooove travelling by bus in Colombia because I've always had great experiences in them buses. Nice, comfortable, air conditioned and they always play some Pastor López. =D

Diana

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Simon says on Sep 16, 2008, 16:11:

I'm sorry I can't be as polite as the people who constantly bash Colombia on this site.

"DON'T FOK WITH COLOMBIA!!"-----Simon

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Sep 16, 2008, 16:25:

i am sure you can simon... you are such an smart boy :))))

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lpdiver says on Sep 16, 2008, 17:02:

My experiences with the buses have been fifty fifty. One was great. One sucked.

The sucky one was on a tour we arranged from Medellin to the coffee region and the Panaca park. We were given a flyer stating that we would be on one of the big honking buses with movies, bathrooms, etc.

What we got was a church style van. I decided to go anyway and had a great time. It nearly killed me and at point I literally had tears running down my face (I have bad knees). I really enjoyed the people and the trip.

Our agent, an ex in law did show up to see us off and pay for our fare personally. I thought that strange until when it came to return two couples had no bus ticket and none available. They ended up paying out of the ass for a taxi all the way back

ts

"cook some rice!"

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quantum says on Sep 16, 2008, 17:17:

Kat, u are so funny. Simon has to learn that the only way we learn and get better is by listening to the constructive criticism of others. Colombia has multitudes of attractions, without doubt, and compared to public transport in the U.S. it still looks pretty good, but this last trip I was not very impressed, at least traveling in the zone where i was cruising. I did not travel on one single bus that was as comfortable as every/any bus that travels between Panama City and the Costa Rican border. And this was in the north, Monteria to Cartagena to Santa Marta , where theoretically travel has long been more secure. . Its still a funcional system, especially compared to the abominable state of public transport inthe States, but hey, less than comfortable. But for trips of 4,5,6 hrs, no big deal. How about for viajes largos de 14 hours or more. How are thoze buses between Cartagena and Medellin or Bogota and Cali for example. Are they equally run down and rough? Mind you, not bashing Colombia, I much prefer bashing America, my birth country, for reasons to be eventually exposed, just trying to be objective..........

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Mononoke28 says on Sep 17, 2008, 10:30:

Every country has its positives and negatives and Colombia is no exception for sure. Unless you ask Simon who thinks it's heaven on earth. Which makes me wonder why he doesn't live there instead of Miami?

Diana

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miamimike says on Sep 17, 2008, 11:53:

Simon doesn't live in Miami does he? Last I knew and he told me this, he was only visiting and then only briefly,,,

On Sept 17, 2008: Senator John McCain said, as he had many times before, that he believed the fundamentals of the economy were "strong."Hours later he backpedaled, explaining that he had meant that American workers were Strong.

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Mononoke28 says on Sep 17, 2008, 14:05:

Didn't he say he was in Kendall?

Diana

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Chapin says on Sep 18, 2008, 04:02:

These are from Guatemala and run from Guatemala City to Xela.


These run from Guatemala City to the coastal city of Puerto Barrios. Fare $12 US.

These are to Peten



The same kind of bus runs from GT City to the Esquipulas, close to the Honduras, El Salvador border.

These buses are only nonstop. All these companies to offer a step down in buses with stops and lower fare.

The buses traveling around Guatemala city are almost like those tomatos in Panama. They also have the same Buses use in Transmilenio.

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El Polo says on Sep 18, 2008, 05:23:

Cartagena Transcaribe

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