Stuck in traffic?
Every morning I try to check online newspapers and this morning that image stroke me. I said “waooo, can this really be true?” and yes it can be. For a moment, I forgot that Buenos Aires, with its 3 millions inhabitants, could have such jammed traffic. This is a view taken at the Avenida 9 de Julio, and let’s not forget that this is the widest in the world. This picture was part of an article explaining how the government is to pass laws for better driving and pedestrian care. I say yes to that, as for me Buenos Aires has the worst driving ever!
That looks like total gridlock. I’ve heard about it but never seen it. It gets pretty bad here, but nothing like this. Great photo.
Robert 74.119.130.148 not foundJan 30, 2007 @ 1:14 pm
Hi there. This is Vic from BA. Buenos Aires has 13.5 million inhabitants, not 3 million.
The Federal District does have 3 million but BA is comprised also by the Great BA. Many people from the Great BA come to work to the city every day.
So, I would say that despite its population and quantity of cars, Buenos Aires does not have such bad traffic problems as compared to other big cities, except for certain days that due to works in the streets, car accidents or protests there are tremendous traffic jams. But they aren´t that often.
Though, with almost half a million cars being sold in Argentina each year, and the heavy use of cars due to the low cost of gas, traffic may became a serious issue un two or three years.
VicJan 30, 2007 @ 10:39 pm
You are completely right. The traffic in Buenos Aires is the worst! I was born and raised in Buenos Aires and although I would love to be able to say that traffic is OK, I can’t.
SoleIt is all about people’s education. I believe that it is important for the government to establish stricter laws to reinforce the way people drive. What is most important is for people to understand the rights of the pedestrians and that the laws installed to regulate driving are to be respected by EVERYBODY.
Jan 31, 2007 @ 2:52 am
Robert – Thanks for stopping by.
Vic– Thanks a lot to bring more information to that posting. Those are great info to better perceive the city. I have to agree with Sole’s comment though. I share 100% her point of view. And about the pedestrians’ rights, please let’s do something about it. They do not have rights at all in Buenos Aires. I think after leaving sometimes in the U.S. where driving and pedestrians are respected (if not you get to pay an extremely expensive fee), I’m saying that Buenos Aires would need a driving education. Some people say they inherited this from the Italians though
Who knows…
Sole– Thanks for bringing your opinion
KarineJan 31, 2007 @ 7:45 am
Quite a heavy traffic. You can see the smog in the distance. No need to envy LA highways
Good shot Karine.
Carlos LorenzoJan 31, 2007 @ 11:30 am
I completely agreed with the traffic situation. It is a “totally Quilombo”…. At least people know in some way “how to drive here” But you should see how’s the traffic in Lima, Peru. Way much worst.
Cheers
MartinJan 31, 2007 @ 9:28 pm
Hi, I live in BA too. Every day I go to the University and the Avenida 9 de Julio it’s a total chaos!!! I take the bus that goes for the highway and it takes me 45 minutes to come there! I agree with Sole. The problem here is the people’s education. At this moment we are also suffering a big problem on the way in which the people drive in routes. There were more than 7000 deaths in 2006 because of it. I hope that we could solve it.
Black birdFeb 02, 2007 @ 2:09 am
Wow…and I thought Istanbul was bad on traffic..
OyaFeb 02, 2007 @ 2:27 pm