Riding the Colectivos (Buses) in Buenos Aires

This is a SUBE card.  It stands for Systema Unico Boleta Electronico (Unique System of Electronic Tickets.  A few years ago the President of Argentina and his advisors figured out that if they had a quick scan card for the transportation systems in town then the buses wouldn't stand idle so long while people were depositing change and that would minimize the air pollution.  They wouldn't need to issue receipts and that would minimize the trash in the streets.  And as a positive side effect people could get around town faster.  So you climb onto a subway car, bus, or train and hold your card over the scanner.  It tells you how much money you have left on the card and you sit down (hopefully). And you can charge it at a variety of shops that are near where you live or work.

I already talked a few blogs ago about riding the subway.  This is about riding the colectivos or buses.  There are over 100 bus companies in Buenos Aires.  Each company has a route number and color code for the buses.  You need to get a Guia T or a MultiGuia to figure out the bus routes. You can get them at the magazine kiosks you see all over the place, or sometimes someone will sell them on the subway.  They run 5-10 pesos ($1-2.50) Trust me, it's worth it. Basically look up where you are departing in the index and it will tell you what buses go by.  Then you look up where you want to go to and get the same info.  Cross reference the bus numbers and pick the one or ones that go by both.  Then you can check the route and pick a bus number.  You can also do this online at http://www.omnilineas.com/argentina/buenos-aires/city-bus/

Then you go and look for a bus stop like this one:

The stops are every few blocks on main roads.  Now don't just stand there when you see your bus number.  Wave your hand.  If there is a truck parked that blocks your view you may even have to step out a bit onto the road.  They don't just stop because there are people there.  As you can see there are multiple buses that stop, so you have to wave them down. In the Guia you can see the color combos of the buses.  For instance 15 is always green and white, 152 which goes downtown to the Plaza de Mayo is Red, White and Blue, or 108 is blue and white:

When you get on tell the bus driver the corner you want, like Scalabrini Ortiz y Cordoba (the yarn district) or Santa Fe y Juan Justo (the train station).  Then scan your card on the machine right behind the driver and try to find a seat, or hold onto one of the bars of hanging handles.

Watch for your stop.  I still keep my Guia out so I can see the names of the streets before my stop.  When you are a few blocks away try to get to the door in the middle of the bus and push the red button on the bar you hold onto.  If you can't get back, step to the front of the bus and tell the driver.  Generally they prefer that you enter at the front and exit at the back.  Don't panic if they don't stop right away.  They will stop at the next bus stop!

The ride is a bit bumpy and the bus will take a lot longer than the subway, maybe twice as long.  However, the buses go everywhere in the city and sometimes to the suburbs.  There are 7 subway lines. They go in and around the main part of Buenos Aires.  Difference in price is about 1.20 pesos vs. 2.50 pesos for the subway (25 cents vs. 53 cents).

I have much more to say, but that's all about the bus system.  Next will be about food....