Finally fined the Bus

JMCana says on Apr 17, 2007, 10:20:

Glad you are smiling Rubito, glad you took my comment in good humor. But it is another reason they need to expand the TM to the North, at least to Centro Chia.

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webmanco says on Apr 17, 2007, 11:12:

school bus They might had fined the bus driver, due to the recent fatal accident where a school bus hit a regular bus, one kid died, several others injured.



Foto: John Wilson Vizcaíno / EL TIEMPO

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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JMCana says on Apr 17, 2007, 14:59:

Thanks for the info. I hope they do crack down on all the buses. The other day a school bus traveling way to fast hit and killed a dog. The same bus driver had been warned previously by police for constantly driving down a wrong way street.

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webmanco says on Apr 17, 2007, 15:16:

How am I driving That is the funny thing, most public buses got a phone number where people can call and complaint, I guess most people are happy in the rolling coaster.

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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JMCana says on Apr 17, 2007, 15:37:

Useless number My wife did call the number once to complain about the driver going so fast that the buzzer for over speed kept going off. They simply told her, "What do you expect, the driver has a time schedule to keep."

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utopiacowboy says on Apr 17, 2007, 21:52:

Complete nonsense. Everyone knows that Colombia's bus drivers are the safest in the world. The gringos are just jealous because they wish that they had such a wonderfully safe bus system in their countries. Y en un ratico vienen los comentarios y insultos en espanol.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Apr 18, 2007, 06:09:

webmanco wrote "How am I driving

That is the funny thing, most public buses got a phone number where people can call and complaint"

yep... the number is the mobile number of the driver... jejejje


BTW I know that Los libertadores ( a bus company) have an speed little box installed in the buses. it shows the speed the bus is going and have a set limit 80km and if they go over the limit that thing start to beep loud... i notice this when i took the bus to Villavo, they are really good and comfortable.

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JMCana says on Apr 18, 2007, 08:36:

Good and bad I imagine that like everything else, there are good ones and bad ones. Unfortunately my experiences seem to be bad. I have never gotten a descent ride on one of the flota buses in my area. I heard great things about the long distance buses and recently took one from Bogota to Pereira. The seat did not recline, the window would only open about an inch and when it rained the leak (more like a steady drizzle) hit my seat and those around me.

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poco says on Apr 18, 2007, 10:31:

I'll never understand why people suffer I normally ride a nice Mercedes, Kia or other type bus.

Never any over crowding and everyone has a seat. If the bus isn't full I'll stretch out on the rear seat and get a head scratch.

Until recently they would drop me off at the house. Now I need to walk six blocks. I'd say the service is deteriorating but not all that bad.

I hate those screeching buzzers and I'm glad to find most of them have been recalibrated.

Maybe you guys have only seen the chicken haulers in the big cities? I'd suggest moving into a nice rural mountain town.

Maybe riding a Chiva is fun, ever think of that ?

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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webmanco says on Apr 18, 2007, 10:41:

Nice cars

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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JMCana says on Apr 18, 2007, 12:34:

I am there Poco wrote: "Maybe you guys have only seen the chicken haulers in the big cities? I'd suggest moving into a nice rural mountain town."

That is where I am and still looking for a descent bus. Mine drops me just two blocks from my house. However I frequently wonder if I am going to make it to that point alive.

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Robert Jorge says on Apr 18, 2007, 23:40:

Kat, my last trip from Bogota to Villavo, we took the typical busetta. The thing had a pop down plasma TV with DVD! We watched 2 movies for the trip, and we were there.

My second time traveling from Bogota to Villavo last year, I actually just paid for a private cab. We made it from El Dorado to Vivi's mom's house in 1.5 hours! I was so exhausted, I wasn't scared. Damn that was fast.

He who farts in church, sits in his own pew.

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Apr 19, 2007, 02:03:

Robert I have never taken a taxi to Villavo, they go really fast. if i don't go in my mum's car I usually take the libertadores, i used to take the vans but again they go to fast and i hated it.. Los libertadores are safe, the drivers are good and the buses are very comfortable with AC and some have stewardess (men) jeje there, really, the only problem is that the bus is only allow to sell i think 5 or 7 tickets for passenger going to Villavo, the rest are for passenger going to Yopal, brcause that is its final destination. and i think in Villavo they sell some for passengers going to Yopal, so the places are limited and they don't take reservations, which is stupid because not many people go from Bogota to Yopal.

And another problem with that bus is the route, because it's going to yopal it gets stop by the Army often and they search you and the bus : thoroughly . You know lots of paras lives there.

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kalder says on Apr 19, 2007, 05:51:

'train tracks BEFORE a road' Damn right!

Rail travel is the most eco-friendly, (potentially) cost-efficient and civilised mode of haulage and inter-city travel.

It's a shame that the Colombian government have abandoned their once proud railway network.

Mind you, they're not alone in that. Successive British governments have let our system run down to the point of farce...Oil lobby, perhaps?

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Apr 19, 2007, 05:59:

Rubito from the terminal yes is usually 2 hours, but some people made it in less than that !

They can't built train there because of geological faults in area, that road or the mountains seem to move slightly and make dips and humps on the road, that is why you get landslide often. the road have the most expensive peajes in Colombia but I think is because it needs work constantly, it is a good road, but as i said it needs work.

the Tunels have been a blessing, it a safe road, and cutting all that ouurs have been wonderful , the buses, taxis, vans whatever you take it will takes you maximun 2 and half hours. the old road used to be 4 and the oldest used to be 9 hours!

BTW the tunnel in pipiral is the longest tunnel in Colombia is 8 km long and well made, it reminds me the tunnel here in Europe

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Apr 19, 2007, 06:05:

but i think is an impresive road this viaducto.

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utopiacowboy says on Apr 19, 2007, 06:08:

Looking at the photo makes me wonder why the FARC have not blown it up. Looks like it would be an excellent target.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Apr 19, 2007, 06:13:

funny UC, the farc used to target the road to Villavo, but in the area of guayabetal, why? because the mountains were near and they could hide there, this part is more tricky because is were the flat land start so no where to hide, or get out easy, the last attack of the farc on the villavo road was i think in 2002 0r 3, and the army chase them off, never ever in the history of this road the 3 tunnels have been attack. the road is well militarised, you won't see in the picturebut usually is lots of Army all the way to Bogota.

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Apr 19, 2007, 06:16:

this is the last leg of these road before you enter the 8 km tunnel, after you go through it, you enter flat land all the way to the amazon.

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Apr 19, 2007, 06:24:

Villavo the picture was takent from the old road.

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webmanco says on Apr 19, 2007, 07:11:

The Longest Tunel It is the one Kats mentions or the one on the way to SantaFe de Antioquia?
EN SERVICIO EL TÚNEL DE OCCIDENTE, EL MÁS LARGO DEL PAÍS

I only wish they will allow motorciles to go thru the tunnel, but last time I went to Villavicencio I had not idea I was not suppose to go thru the tunel on a motorcicle. Once I passed the tunel, sure enough the "Policia vial" was awaiting for me.

Next time I will take the old road and will go even to Yopal

Talking about railroads, this was posted by GIZZABEER or by Ingles

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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Robert Jorge says on Apr 19, 2007, 07:36:

Kat, your correct about the FARC in 2002 or so. I read they planted the bombs, but they either failed to go off or were inaffective. The real scary thing was during the same time, the FARC tried to blow up the dam on the south side of Bogota. (I have no idea where exactly) They said if the dam would have broken, Villavicencio would have been wiped out. Guayabetal is my wife's mother's hometown. I didn't realize that was a FARC area in the past. I'll have to ask her about it. It is a cool little town.

He who farts in church, sits in his own pew.

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Apr 19, 2007, 08:31:

You mean the last tunnel webmanco, because you are allowed to pass the first two, before arriving to the last tunel and after the peaje the pipiral you have to take the old road from there it will take you one hour more, stupid no? trucks have to do the same, they are not allowed the last part of the road. i took this 2 pictures from that old road. it have better scenary but it's longer unfortunately.

Robert guayabetal and quetame used to be the spot were the guerrilla usually attacked or did his pescas milagrosa but the pescas stop in the late 90 at S and the last attack was in 2002 as you said, I remember i was in Villavo with my husband at that time and were going to christened my niece and the father could not make it he got stuck in Bogota because of the conflict, we had to cancel the christening.

so far no more attacks on that road and as you have seen is well militarised. i think is because now it's the main route too Villavo

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