You arrive in an unknown city and there are a series of questions that often have no answers. We are not talking about where a museum or a restaurant is located, but about something as basic as how to get on public transportation.
Not all cities follow the same logic, and much depends on cultural codes and norms of coexistence. Therefore, here we will explain how to get on a bus, a subway, a train and a taxi, the most important means of public transportation in Buenos Aires.
Don’t worry, many things are probably familiar to you from your native country, others are not. As a advance payment, we recommend that you have your SUBE card as soon as possible, since without it you will only be able to travel by taxi.
How to Board and Pay For My Ticket on Public Transportation in Buenos Aires?
Bus
To board a bus in the City of Buenos Aires, you need to go to the corresponding stops for each line. Keep in mind that these stops are sometimes clearly marked, while at other times, you will have to “deduce” their location by observing a queue or seeing where a bus has previously stopped.
Raise your right hand, and with this gesture, the approaching bus driver will understand that you want to board. You will enter through the front door (and exit through the middle or rear doors) and tell the driver your destination. He will calculate the distance and activate the SUBE card reader. Tap your card on the reader to pay for your ride.
Remember not to stand in the aisle of the bus or at the front. Find a spot in the back or middle of the bus. Additionally, do not block the exit doors. When you want to get off, press the notification bell once to signal the driver to stop at the next stop.
Subways and Trains
Boarding a subway or train is much simpler. You won’t need to communicate with the driver or make any gestures.
First, pay for your ride by tapping your SUBE card on the turnstiles at the entrance to the train or subway platform. If your SUBE card is not detected and the turnstile doesn’t open, try another turnstile or check if there’s an issue with your card (demagnetization, damage, or insufficient credit).
Once on the platform, simply wait for the train or subway to arrive.
In the case of the subway, you can position yourself in the central cars or at either end. The ends usually have fewer passengers, though they are farther from the platform exits, and vagrants may choose those cars.
Some subways have automatic doors, while others (the more modern ones) require you to open the latch or handle to enter or exit. Do this only when the train is stopped, as the doors will not open otherwise.
For trains, follow the same logic as with the subway. We recommend not boarding a train during peak hours (weekdays from 7 to 10 AM and 5 to 7 PM), as they are usually overcrowded with passengers.
Taxis
Taxis drive around the streets of Buenos Aires, and you can either hail one there or request one through a taxi mobile app.
How can you tell if a taxi is available? First, look for the illuminated “Libre” (available) sign. Also, the way the taxi moves can be an indicator; when looking for passengers, taxi drivers usually move at a slow speed in the lane closest to the right-hand sidewalk.
Like boarding a bus, raise your right hand when you want to take a taxi and get in through the right rear door (never through the left).
Once inside, tell the driver where you want to go (it can be a street with a number, a cross street, or a well-known location, like Luna Park). Make sure the driver activates the meter to calculate the fare and then start your journey.
As you approach your destination, prepare your payment. Remember that most taxis only accept cash, so keep some money reserved for these situations.
(Featured Image Source: magro_kr/flickr.com)
