Our couchsurfing host said the rides are expensive and people complain about the cost of the rides, 2 pesos up to 6 pesos per ride. I calculated conversation rates and found an average 3 peso ride was 22 cents.
In Neuva York, New York City, one ride is $2.75, which is currently roughly 38 pesos.
As always, be aware of who is around you, keep your phone stashed when appropriate, wear your backpack on your front, if you put it down have a leg through a strap. With that awareness, I felt generally safe on every ride.
The cars and stations do get crowded, especially during rush hour.
There are people selling and begging, standard fare on subways, musicians playing in some byways. There are people vending products by donation, suchas a young lady who would place hair ribbons on seated female passenger’s laps, and then return before the next stop to collect any donations. One little girl was so excited she wanted her dad to give a hundred pesos, but he gave 10, probably more than he would have. Everything from flashlights to scissors to socks and treats will be placed on your seated leg for them to return and pick up or get cash.
Art and ads. The last one is from a brand new station that opened a few days ago. We rode on it before our host had a chance to.
There are some extensive shanty towns visible from the above ground train that travels a longer distance. This non-permitted multistory housings are made of brick and morter, some are other materials, painted or stucco. The city tolerates them, partly out of not knowing what to do about it, and that it’s been there over 10 years so it’s become a human rights issue, so now they would look like the bad guys if they did anything about it.
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