I can now die a happy man, for I've ridden TransMilenio, Bogota's bus rapid transit system. Not the first, but probably the best, TM covers over 80 km and makes Bogatanos swell with pride. In fact, our friend Carolina had two 10-trip passes ready for us when we arrived last week. Its fleet also appears on a clear majority of tourist t-shirts and postcards.
The system is so central to this city's future and urban development that the current mayor was sacked and suspended for 3 months due to alleged corruption involving bids for new lines. Nevertheless, TM can get you from the Norte to El Centro in half the time that a taxi would take and the system costs a fraction of what Medellin laid down for its subway system.
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