Transport fares spike.. what is the solution? Biking

As you may have heard or read on the newspapers, both train, bus and subway lines are to raise their fares this week. All this is an intricate topic to deal with as it has an immediate effect on our economy. Not only transport fares have gushed this year but also fuel,tolls,gas and so on.

I distinctly remember our president Cristina Kirchner unveiling a new project on a high-speed train linking the cities of Buenos Aires and Rosario. What for? Obviously, there lots of wads of notes for the KIRCHNER DYNASTY behind that project. Cristina K. clearly thinks the metropolitan transport is at its highest level, so extra money has to be invested on luxurious transportation. She's so narrow minded that anyone on its right sense would realise money has to be invested on newer trains and buses. Commuting is chaotic. During rush hour, there's hardly room for you to commute in a decent way.

Fortunately, we have bikes. If you commute and these rises blow you budget, TRY CYCLING. It's reassuring to see so many people riding bikes these days. Have a try! You'll save money on parking (if you have a car), insurance, sudden transport rises and fuel.You won't lower you social class in society just by using a bike, that is rubbish. You have to experience cycling when commuting; you'll refresh your mind, do extra exercise and feel healthier.

You can see in the snaps uploaded below that more and more people are struggling when commuting using public transportation. As a helping hand, biking comes to the rescue giving you the chance to lead a better life. Many people are using their bikes, not only downtown but also on the outskirts/suburbs of BA.

Now you are free to choose. You have two alternatives: killing for coins to commute on a packed bus after the fares shot up again or cycling to your destination so as to reach earlier without spending a single cent.

A short trip before THE trip to the Iguazu Falls

Last weekend, Nuria and I decided to go for a short biking spell away from Moreno, my home town. On that Saturday morning, we managed to catch the train to Mercedes, a small town 1h20m away from Moreno. In spite of our excitement on the trip, we almost fell asleep as we woke up at 9.20am when the train departed at 10. We got ready in a few minutes and cycled to the railway station as fast as we could, catching the train with just a few minutes to spare.

The trip seemed to take us less then expected. After talking and listening to some music, we found ourselves in the city of Lujan. This city brings me fresh and unforgettable memories; last year, I cycled there and made it after 1h 45 minutes on a sunny and hot December afternoon.

We reached Mercedes at around 11.30 am. As we didn't carry a map or had a fixed destination in mind, we set off so as to bike around. It was then when at 30 blocks away from the railway station we bumped a Pulperia dating from 1830. A pulperia is like a sort of pub nowadays. That Pulperia is run by Carlos Di Catrina, nickanmed Cacho. You must believe me-stepping into that place feels like being in a time machine and travel back to the nineteenth century. Old pictures are hung on the walls as well as old pieces of furniture and a bricked floored give the place a unique atmosphere. We would have enjoyed a short chat with Cacho, the owner of that pulpuria, but we had just some hours ahead before going back to Moreno.

After leaving the Pulperia, we had lunch and rested for an hour or so on a park, a few minutes away from the railway station. We had to take our train back to Moreno at 5.30 pm so we cycled around for a while before reaching the station. One distinctive feature of the city is that you can find lots of schools in Mercedes. We also came acroos a very picturesque and old Irish Church which made Nuria feel flabbergasted. Fortunately, my bike, nicknamed The Lusitana, did very well as we didn't get a flat or anything. Respect Lusitana!

Carriages for bikes in Buenos Aires

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As you may see in the snap, it looks like you have plenty of space to hang your bike in the hooks while commuting. I have to say in the weekend you do have plenty of room to travel with your bike, especially on Sundays. It's another story from Mon. to Fri. You hardly have a single hook for your bike and you have to squeeze in a carriage at rush hour. Currently, cyclists who commute in the Buenos Aires Trains (TBA) line have only one carriage out of nine available for their bikes. The authorities should revise their policies so that cyclists can travel in a more comfortable way.

My first entry at using bikes in Buenos Aires

This passion of riding bikes has inspired me to build this blog.At times when transport fares have shot up in Buenos Aires, the use of bikes will become the means of trasnportation for those who can't afford a rise in fares. It's believed that commuters will face up a spike of up to 25% in bus, subway and train fares.
Not only this but also another issues have encouraged me to use my bike. Being a cheaper (free in fact), healthier and enjoyable way to move around in Moreno, my home town, I use my bike as I had never used it before. Whenever I have to travel downtown, I catch the train, hang my bike in the racks and that's it. Once downtown, I reach my destination faster as traffic seems to be chaotic these days.

In this blog, I'll give you my reactions as to news, curiosities or even my own experiences on two wheels. Hope you visit my blog regularly and enjoy your reading as well as you enjoy your riding.