quinta-feira, 12 de junho de 2014

Find out how easy it is to get around Rio by public transportation systems!

It is not possible to compare Rio de Janeiro's public transportation system to the ones of the european capitals, but knowing well how it works, it is possible to get easily everywhere, including the turistical spots. This post presents a list of alternatives and respective descriptions that can be really usefull to the ones who pretend to know Rio without spending a lot of cash.

SUBWAY
The Subway has only two lines, the first one conecting the North Side (starting at Pavuna station) until the South Side (ending at Botafogo Station) and the other one leaving also from the North Side (Tijuca), heading to the South Side (Ipanema). This is the safest and fastest way to get around, but sometimes it's not very confortable. During the peaks (monday to friday between 6:00 and 8:30 heading to the South Side, and between 16:00 to 19:00 heading to the North Side).There are some integration buses that complete the routes, you can find all the details on the Rio Subway official website also available in english.

BRT
BRT Stands for Bus Rapid Transit. This system counts on exclusive lanes, offering a faster way to travel from Santa Cruz to Campo Grande, and all the stops between them like Barra da Tijuca for example. You can also chek more details of it's complete path on the website.

You can also check the BRT's map, that includes all the connections with other transportation systems. The only problem about the BRT is that it is recent and still need some development.

FRESCÃO
Frescão is such a good tip that it has a post for itself. It is a very economic and confortable way to get from the airports and bus terminal to your destination. Check this link!

REGULAR CITY BUSES
Connects the whole city through many buses. You can find the main stops written on a pannel placed on the windshield of each bus. It is always a good idea to ask the driver if the bus is heading to where you want to go before getting up, altough they don't speak english, they will probably understand the name of the place you are trying to reach.

FUTURE PROJECTS THAT MAY START WORKING SOON:

VLT
The VLT is a light rail vehicle that will help to divide the city traffic. It's construction already began and is expected to be done in 2016.

SANTA TERESA'S TRAMWAY
The Santa Teresa tramways used to be a very popular transportation way for the cariocas. After being disactivated in the past years, it will be activated again, most likely on 2015.
Besides the charm of the neighborhood, also named Santa Teresa, you can find great restaurants, bars, a great view of the city and parks, forming a nice mix between new and classic Rio de Janeiro.

If you have any doubts or suggestions, please leave comments or questions, and stay tunned for more tips!

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