Outliers

We rose a few hours before dawn to make the long trek to Martita’s home on the outskirts of Mexico City. She worked as a maid in an office in the historic Coyoacán neighborhood. Her daily commute was two-and-a-half hours—each way—and included a minimum of two bus rides (on a good day), a subway ride, and a good deal of walking. On this morning, I joined her to document the journey.

The public transit system in Mexico City’s center is fairly robust, though not without its challenges. But most of the city’s nine million people live on the fringes where their only option is to take an unofficial microbus. These privately owned and operated vehicles range from a small bus to not much more than a van. They frequently break down and run with often unpredictable schedules. On our commute, the bus broke down early into our journey, and all of the passengers had to wait for another microbus to come along.

The experience takes a toll on vulnerable populations already dealing with systemic poverty, and all of the issues that come with it. From a public health point of view alone, if you take Martita’s journey of five hours breathing in the fumes of thousands of cars, buses, trucks, and motorbikes, and apply it to the number of people with similar commutes, the effect on an individual’s lifespan, quality of life, and the strain on the city’s healthcare system and economy, you quickly realize that public transport is a problem that needs solving.