The Mayor of Rio said the measure will help contain the spread of the pandemic and that people may be closed for 24 hours.
This Thursday (19) the Rio de Janeiro city hall informed that if the recommendations to avoid overcrowding on public transport are not followed, it is possible that the circulation of the BRT will be suspended.
This measure aims to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. It will only take effect if the other recommendations decided today by the city government are ineffective.
"If, with these measures, civil disobedience occurs from business owners, system operators, and passengers, the BRT will be suspended. We hope this never happens. This would be a failure for us as a society. However, if we fail, the BRT will be suspended for 24 hours and, subsequently, for longer periods," said Mayor Marcelo Crivella.
In Rio de Janeiro, the BRT connects the west and south zones of the city, where there are more cases of Covid-19, according to the city government.
The Rio de Janeiro State Road Transportation Department (Detro), in an ordinance published this Tuesday (17), determined that public transportation vehicles and those of tourism companies that circulate in the state's metropolitan region must only transport seated passengers. The determination, according to Crivella, has been breached.
"Once again, I ask drivers to please not stop at the bus stop when their vehicle is fully booked. If the bus is full, the driver has the authority to stop the bus, put the key in their pocket, and refuse to continue. This is in defense of the lives of the people there and their own," he said.
BRT Rio
According to BRT Rio, there is a drop in the number of passengers. If compared to last Monday (16) with the previous week, there was a drop of around 30%.
In a statement, the Rio de Janeiro City Bus Companies Union (Rio Ônibus), which encompasses the city's bus companies and the BRT system, said it is working continuously with government agencies and companies to control boarding and capacity on the city's buses. Despite its efforts, the Union warned that it is impossible to enforce the city's order banning standing-passenger transportation without the support of the authorities. "We understand the seriousness of this situation and appeal for support," they stated.
Transport inspection
According to Crivella, the plan is to intensify oversight of public transportation in the city. To this end, he submitted a request to the City Council on Thursday (19) to change the municipal guards' work schedule, from 60 hours off for every 12 hours worked to 36 hours off for every 12 hours worked. This change will be in effect while the Covid-19 pandemic is still being fought.
The mayor states that by increasing the guards' working hours, it will be possible to intensify inspections, which are currently concentrated at the main stations, to other boarding and disembarking points.
To avoid overcrowding, the mayor also requests that all vehicles be circulating, which will be monitored in the garages by inspectors from the Municipal Department of Transportation.
"I appeal to business owners. We're not prioritizing anyone's profits; we're prioritizing people's lives. Buses should be running, and all buses should be on the streets. This will reduce the time between buses," he said.