Each time I came to Panama City these old and colorful buses were very much a part of the city’s picture. They are unique and for visitors they came to be a symbol for this country.
Should we be sad or happy to see them gone?
People here say that the government is buying them for $25,000 each and sends them for scrap metal as they replace them with the modern Metrobus. They say the Diablo Rojo is unsafe to ride and some are glad to see them off the roads.
Old, with narrow seats, no A/C and seemingly hard to navigate, they have been replaced almost completely within the city limits.
Some are still running outside of the city, on different routes, from the Albrook Mall. Yet, a lot of the colored ones I had seen last year seem to be gone already. I see a lot of plain looking ones now, and just a few fully colored. Naked girl advertisements on the front of some are hard to miss.
As color and art goes, I feel sad to see them gone and certainly the idea to have them go for scrap metal bothers me. I would have chosen the best colored ones for an open air museum or for making some kind of a funky hotel.
Since I am talking about buses in Panama City, this might be a good time to give some information on how the new bus system works. The “Metrobus” is the modern addition to the public transportation of Panama City. The new orange and white buses have air conditioning and are way more spacious for the same price of $.25 one way. Except that you have to get a “tarjeta” (card) in advance and it will cost $2.00 before you get to add any funds on it. On the “Diablo Rojo” it was an all cash deal. The “tarjeta” (an orange and white card) can always get recharged.
The main bus terminal of the city is in the Albrook Mall. For using one of the out of city buses, besides paying for the ticket, you also have to get another “tarjeta” for $1.00. This one is mostly white and green, with a newspaper look. You will need it to enter the bus waiting area. Each time you enter you need an extra $0.10 credit on it. Most tourist do not understand this and if not Spanish speakers they feel like they have to pay too many times for the bus or that they are being asked for a tip, or being tricked. Bus drivers and bus station attendants do not speak English, so it hard to get informed in there.
