New buses reform Mexico City’s Reforma

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Avenida de la Reforma is a six-lane traffic artery that cuts all the way across Mexico City and is one of the most-transited roads here, both day and night. But commuters might enjoy a little less traffic, noise and pollution from now on: The city has just introduced 173 new buses that will replace the more than 300 beat-up, green-and-white micro-buses, or peseros, that can make traveling a risky venture.

Some of Mexico City’s peseros have been around for up to 30 years, and many are in a terrible state of disrepair, way past their useful lifespans. As a Mexico City resident who uses them daily, I can testify that they’re frequently overcrowded and often driven dangerously.

The old peseros have been taken out of circulation along the Reforma route and replaced by the new buses, but they will continue to operate in nearly every other part of the city.

The new green buses -- announced by Mexico City mayor Marcelo Ebrard earlier this week -- are much bigger than the old ones, and will operate along a nearly 18-mile route that runs from north to south. A statement from Ebrard’s office says the new vehicles produce 90% fewer carbon emissions.

In fact, the only bad news for commuters is the cost of riding the buses. The old peseros charged between 3 and 4 pesos per ride, depending on how far you were going, and now the new units are going to cost at least 4.50 if not 5 pesos (around 38 cents) a ride.

-- Deborah Bonello in Mexico City