The metro also works hard to make sure women feel safe in its stations, and mental health resources are advertised on the walls for passengers.
Something I personally appreciate about the metro is how accessible it is. The elderly, disabled and pregnant are given first priority in the use of benches and train seats, and the elevators at every station ensure it is wheelchair accessible. But accessibility isn't just about who can use a resource, it's also about what the resource provides. The metro travels to the places in Quito where people need to go the most, like Universidad Central and shopping centers. Without it, lots of people would struggle to get to their destinations safely and quickly. Even crossing the street can be dangerous in Quito, so every metro station has at least two different entrances, often on opposite sides of a road. The La Carolina station near my house has five!
La Carolina is one of the busier stations, but the metro knows how to adapt to the demand. During rush hours, everything is streamlined. Train doors open automatically, instead of the usual button to open them, and all the escalators out go up instead of down so people get to their end destination faster. It's an amazing thing to see. It's the ever-beating heart of the city, hundreds of meters below the surface, but truly, the people who work there are what keep it going. Each station is staffed at all times with guides, ticket agents, cleaners and safety assistants, all working in tandem to help people get to where they need to go. It's no wonder they have been awarded for their excellent customer service, because their staff follows La Cultura Metro.
