The challenges facing those who wish to use their own cars are even greater.
The need for a safe, reliable public transit system is addressed in the previous question, but many people, myself included, jump to a very American solution: why can't Ecuadorians just use their own cars? Besides the safety and traffic issues, there are other significant barriers to car ownership. For one, cars are imported, which makes them very expensive. Because most people can't afford the high price tag, potential buyers undergo rigorously investigation to ensure the source of their money is legitimate. Assuming the buyer passes the investigation, the strict yearly inspections are expensive and complicated. Rather than face the hassle, many Quiteños in the metropolitan area turn to the one and only underground public transit system in the country.
The Quito Metro meets the need for safe, clean, rapid public transportation. It’s still a very new system, as it only started operating in December 2023. The metro was built to replace other public transportation systems that were clogging up roadways, and the change was drastic! For a writing assignment, I asked my students to review the metro, and almost all of them praised it for its cleanliness and efficiency. A lot of them mentioned that the “Cultura Metro” (metro culture) is a huge part of what makes this system a success. The metro is designed to be a place of etiquette and respect. For example, people aren’t allowed to eat or listen to music out loud on the metro, which sets it apart from the buses and trolleys of the old days.
