Riding the Micro in Santiago, Chile
No matter where you go in Santiago, Chile, chances are good that somewhere close by, probably within earshot, a yellow bus, is on the move.�¯�¿�½ There are thousands of these buses, known as micros to Chileans, on the road.�¯�¿�½ They can be a very confusing experience at first. But if you keep in mind some basic tips, it will make the experience much smoother.
There is an important distinction to make between the older privately run micros, which are yellow, and the new green and white buses that are part of the government’s Transantiago initiative to reform the micro system.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ Poor regulation, lack of training, and faulty buses have contributed to a negative reputation for the older systems.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ The new system faces an ambitious challenge in order to successfully replace the old one and offer a better service to the city.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½
This means that your experience will be quite different depending on which micro you are riding.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ The new micros don’t accept bills, and you pay a machine rather than the driver, so make sure you have coins ready or find change before you board.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ Once you’ve paid, you’ll receive a small stub, hold on to this because you might have to show it to an inspector if one boards.
Before you get on a micro, make sure you know which ones will take you where you need to go.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ If where you are going is on a major street such as the central artery of the Avenue Bernardo O’Higgins (known formerly as Alameda, which is also listed on most buses), you can just look at the names of landmarks on the micro route, usually listed on the front and side of the bus on a little sign.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ If its dark and you can’t see the names, it can be better to hail every micro and then wave it past if its not headed the right direction.
If you’re not on your way to a major destination, make sure you know the numbers you need.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ There is no real obvious system to the numbers, the 614 and 615, for example, arrive in much different places.
Ask someone you know for the numbers, or check the website www.micros.cl.�¯�¿�½ The website allows you to enter two addresses and then it lists what micros you need to take.�¯�¿�½ A printed guidebook is also available in Lider supermarkets, but it is poorly organized.
Once you’ve figured out which micro to take, boarded and paid your fare, find a seat. It’s a good idea to always keep a good grip on something sturdy, preferably not the person next to you.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ The micros drive at fast speeds, swerve constantly, and stop suddenly.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ You don’t want to fall down, it could hurt and would surly be embarrassing.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ The Transantiago micros are more stable, but also much slower because of their double length size.
Depending on what hour you’re riding, your experience will be much different.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ If you have the unfortunate experience of riding in the early morning rush hour traffic, which lasts from about 7:30am to 10:00am, or in the early evening, from 6:30pm to 10:00 pm, then you’ll be lucky if you get enough room to stand.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ Both lines of micros are a burden to ride at this hour, and move sluggishly through the traffic.
For the most part riding the micro is a safe activity, do take care if there is a soccer game.�¯�¿�½ Drunken hooligans on their way to the stadium often take over the back of a micro.�¯�¿�½ Avoid a bad situation and push your way to the front of the bus to get off when your destination arrives.�¯�¿�½ When the traffic is bad, and your standing in the aisle, also keep an eye on you bag, and your wallet.�¯�¿�½ It is an easy opportunity for a thief to get a hold of a cell phone or a camera while the micro sways back and forth
But if your not riding during rush hour you will likely have more room, and patience to enjoy the ride. Transantiago micros are much nicer than the old micros, there are more seats, and they are much cleaner.�¯�¿�½ However, they lack some of the colorful aspects of their yellow counterparts.�¯�¿�½ Street musicians and salesman are banned for boarding the new system, so a ride will lack some of the character and charisma that comes with the novelties being sold, or the rich music played by the musicians.�¯�¿�½
Don’t let yourself get too wrapped up in the folk music being played, stay aware of where you are so you can get off in the right spot.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ Most micros have buttons, marked timbre, that sound a buzzer and light so the driver knows to let you down.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ Sometimes on really old micros there is only one button above the backdoor.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ Sometimes the button doesn’t work and you’ll either have to yell and scream, or quickly move to the front so the driver can let you off.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½
There is an important distinction to make between the older privately run micros, which are yellow, and the new green and white buses that are part of the government’s Transantiago initiative to reform the micro system.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ Poor regulation, lack of training, and faulty buses have contributed to a negative reputation for the older systems.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ The new system faces an ambitious challenge in order to successfully replace the old one and offer a better service to the city.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½
This means that your experience will be quite different depending on which micro you are riding.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ The new micros don’t accept bills, and you pay a machine rather than the driver, so make sure you have coins ready or find change before you board.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ Once you’ve paid, you’ll receive a small stub, hold on to this because you might have to show it to an inspector if one boards.
Before you get on a micro, make sure you know which ones will take you where you need to go.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ If where you are going is on a major street such as the central artery of the Avenue Bernardo O’Higgins (known formerly as Alameda, which is also listed on most buses), you can just look at the names of landmarks on the micro route, usually listed on the front and side of the bus on a little sign.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ If its dark and you can’t see the names, it can be better to hail every micro and then wave it past if its not headed the right direction.
If you’re not on your way to a major destination, make sure you know the numbers you need.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ There is no real obvious system to the numbers, the 614 and 615, for example, arrive in much different places.
Ask someone you know for the numbers, or check the website www.micros.cl.�¯�¿�½ The website allows you to enter two addresses and then it lists what micros you need to take.�¯�¿�½ A printed guidebook is also available in Lider supermarkets, but it is poorly organized.
Once you’ve figured out which micro to take, boarded and paid your fare, find a seat. It’s a good idea to always keep a good grip on something sturdy, preferably not the person next to you.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ The micros drive at fast speeds, swerve constantly, and stop suddenly.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ You don’t want to fall down, it could hurt and would surly be embarrassing.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ The Transantiago micros are more stable, but also much slower because of their double length size.
Depending on what hour you’re riding, your experience will be much different.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ If you have the unfortunate experience of riding in the early morning rush hour traffic, which lasts from about 7:30am to 10:00am, or in the early evening, from 6:30pm to 10:00 pm, then you’ll be lucky if you get enough room to stand.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ Both lines of micros are a burden to ride at this hour, and move sluggishly through the traffic.
For the most part riding the micro is a safe activity, do take care if there is a soccer game.�¯�¿�½ Drunken hooligans on their way to the stadium often take over the back of a micro.�¯�¿�½ Avoid a bad situation and push your way to the front of the bus to get off when your destination arrives.�¯�¿�½ When the traffic is bad, and your standing in the aisle, also keep an eye on you bag, and your wallet.�¯�¿�½ It is an easy opportunity for a thief to get a hold of a cell phone or a camera while the micro sways back and forth
But if your not riding during rush hour you will likely have more room, and patience to enjoy the ride. Transantiago micros are much nicer than the old micros, there are more seats, and they are much cleaner.�¯�¿�½ However, they lack some of the colorful aspects of their yellow counterparts.�¯�¿�½ Street musicians and salesman are banned for boarding the new system, so a ride will lack some of the character and charisma that comes with the novelties being sold, or the rich music played by the musicians.�¯�¿�½
Don’t let yourself get too wrapped up in the folk music being played, stay aware of where you are so you can get off in the right spot.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ Most micros have buttons, marked timbre, that sound a buzzer and light so the driver knows to let you down.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ Sometimes on really old micros there is only one button above the backdoor.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ Sometimes the button doesn’t work and you’ll either have to yell and scream, or quickly move to the front so the driver can let you off.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½
