If necessity is the mother of invention, then there are a lot of needy people who are going to have to think fast about how to invent a new way to get to work and school this week in Clayton County, Georgia as C-Tran shuts down.
Fortunately, there's a blue print for a public-private partnership just around the corner in Puerto Rico (ahem) that would be easily copied and easily launched. A few resourceful entrepreneurs with a few good large vehicles or vans, a web designer and voila, you have a plan that other cities will envy. Publicos or Collectivos are a great way to get around. Low cost, and better than begging Dad to drive you.
Read on...
"Public cars" are actually 17-passenger vans. (When I was in PR, they were old Cadillacs) They have yellow license plates ending in "P" or "PD," and they scoot to towns throughout the island, stopping in each community's main plaza or at a destination specified by a passenger (s). They operate primarily during the day; the public service commission fixes routes and fares.
Publicos generally originate from some parking-lot like terminal or central points around town and post their destination on the window.
The municipalities that are an hour ride or more usually have only 2 vans available and have a specific departing schedule. The municipalities that are 30 minutes ride in a private car have many vans available without a set schedule; therefore, you must be willing to allow a long waiting time.
Some routes have vehicles in good conditions and appearance, meaning with air-condition, workable speakers to listen to the radio and hole less seats. Is less expensive than renting a car, but it is time consuming. The Publicos wait until the car is full before departing. A bit like the shuttle vans at the airport.
I have used the "public cars" service to visit my mom in San Sebastián and stay for at least 2 days. The fare is USD10 one-way. A 2-hours one-way ride with a private car turns into a 4 hours trip when traveling in a “public car”.
San Juan-based público companies include Blue Line for trips to Aguadilla and the northwest coast, Choferes Unidos de Ponce for Ponce, Línea Caborrojeña for Cabo Rojo and the southwest coast, Línea Boricua for the interior and the southwest, Línea Sultana for Mayagüez and the west coast, and Terminal de Transportación Pública for Fajardo and the east.
The Puerto Rico Tourism Office in the airport (787-791-1014) can help you contact the público companies and coordinate a pickup time. You can also contact the PRTC nearest you.
Type of traveler that would use this service – Students, low budget travelers, will be staying for at least a week outside the San Juan hotel area. The arrival and departure days will be exclusively assigned to travel aboard a “público”.
Type of residents that would use this service – Senior citizens, students, none-career oriented workers and low-income families that does not own a car nor can drive.
So, there you have it: A clear choice for a new way for Clayton transportation. They can either be the guys who walked or the guys who lead.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
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