Public Transportation

 Panama has an impressive public transportation network.

Panama City has two subway lines, that connect the national bus terminal to the center of town, and all the way to the airport. Well, as of now: almost the airport. You have to switch to a bus for the last 2 km. However, they have been building the extension to the airport over the last few years - interrupted by the pandemic as so much else in the world over the last 3 years - but now they are almost ready, it looks.

They are also building a third line, which should extend westward to about 20 or 30 km outside of the city. Every time I pass the construction site I am asking myself: How come Panama City can do that, and Atlanta is incapable of putting in more rail - even though Atlanta is criss-crossed by old rail lines, which could easily be used! The answer, of course, is obvious: Atlantans and Georgians - like most of the US population - doesn't care about public transportation. They prefer to be stuck in traffic, cursing out everybody else who's on the road blocking their ability to go where they want to go... But, let me get off my soapbox...

The Panama Metro is teaching their clients about proper behavior while being on the subway and the stations. I find they are doing this in a lovely way:

Aside of the subway, there are many buses (200 or so) that take people anywhere within the city and suburbs. The cost is also quite amazing: $0.25 for a bus ride, and $0.35 to $1.35!

What I would love to see is a train line from Panama City all the way to Paso Canoas at the border to Costa Rica. When that would be there, I'm sure the Costa Ricans would build their own line from San Jose to Paso Canoas - can't be that the poorer neighbor has a train and Costa Rica does not! 

I heard, that the Chinese offered to build that train, but the Panamanian government declined. Smart folks! I'm pretty sure, though, if the EU would offer the same thing, they would thankfully accept. 

Even outside of the city, all the way to the most remote village, there's public transportation! The National Bus Terminal is quite impressive. Although confusing for a foreigner, who doesn't speak Spanish. After trying it a few times, though, it becomes quite easy and convenient.

You can get to any location within the country, where there are enough passengers to fill large buses. To the smaller villages, you simply switch bus at the next closest larger town.

I took the bus from Bugaba in Chiriqui to Panama City. It took close to 9 hours! The bus made a stop half way in Santiago Veraguas, where everybody got off to used the bathroom and/or grab a bite to eat at the restaurant at the terminal. The cost for this trip? Whooping $15.65!!!

Taking the bus from Salzburg City to my old hometown of Tamsweg, only 2 hours away, costs Euro 18.70.  A train from NYC to Trenton NJ, also about a 2 hour trip, costs $ 21.00.