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-Editorial
In the summer of 2024, the municipality of Mexicali, Baja California, modified its agreements regarding public transportation fares. By using the prepaid card and QR code provided by the new digital app StopBus Mexicali, users can pay a fare of $15.50, with a preferential price of $7.75 for seniors, students, and individuals with disabilities. If paying in cash, users will be charged $20.00, to incentivize the use of electronic money, as reported by the Institute of Sustainable Mobility (IMOS).
In this border city, only between 6% and 8% of the 1,197,000 inhabitants use public transportation, due to insecurity, limited schedules, poorly focused routes, and overcrowded units during peak hours, along with easy access to imported cars commonly known as “chocolate” cars, explained Dr. Carlos González, Director of the College of Social Sciences and Humanities at CETYS University Campus Mexicali.
He mentioned that the manufacturing sector represents part of the population that relies on public transportation to get to work. However, since it is not an effective means for planning schedules, companies have generated a series of contracts with transportation firms as a preventive measure against tardiness, along with offering economic incentives for arriving on time.
“It’s unfeasible to plan your commute expecting a transport that runs at irregular intervals, and when it does come, it’s full and unsafe. To add to that, during hot weather, despite government efforts to provide cooling, many vehicles do not have it,” he stated.
On the other hand, the CETYS expert highlighted the impact this change brings for seniors, emphasizing the possible difficulties this group may face in adapting to new technologies with the use of the app to maintain their preferential price, such as using a scanner, camera, and digital banking.
“There should have been a pilot test, an intensive campaign to promote the app, online or in-person training, and outreach to neighborhoods where public transportation is heavily used: schools, peripheral populations, and human and social development centers.”
He considered that this initiative might lead to a search for alternative transportation options, which may come at a higher cost but be more optimal. A possible solution could be the organization of discussion forums involving various economic sectors, the community, and the Institute of Sustainable Mobility, he added.
The problem persists due to the lack of maintenance and care for public transportation units; thus, the fare increase has generated discontent among the population. This dissatisfaction might not occur if better conditions were provided, noted Dr. Leticia Torres Arteaga, Coordinator of Executive Degrees and Full-Time Faculty at the School of Administration and Business at CETYS University Campus Mexicali.
She explained that the $4.50 increase is a strategy to discourage cash payments, noting that if the increase had been only $1.00, it would not have impacted users’ perceptions as significantly.
Furthermore, she pointed out that this fare increase could affect family economies depending on how frequently public transportation is used and how many family members use these vehicles daily.
“This increase could spark debate about the need for subsidies and government assistance to mitigate the impact. Prices must be fair, and people need to earn enough to meet their real needs,” she expressed.
Dr. Torres commented that, in an ideal world, public transportation should be free, as its operation would be funded by taxes, and each government would ensure that the population has access to safe and comfortable transportation, just as public services like drinking water, street lighting, security, education, and roads are guaranteed.
