Quito Buses Would Need Safety Reviews Before Charging 40 Cents

Quito's bus-fare debate now has a safety-check condition attached to it.

Primicias reports that Quito's Municipality is working on an ordinance setting the rules bus owners must meet before raising the city bus fare from $0.35 to $0.40.

The New Safety Review

The city wants a second mandatory vehicle inspection for more than 3,300 buses operating in Quito.

Mobility Secretary Alex Perez told Primicias that the second review is intended as a safety inspection.

The Agencia Metropolitana de Transito (AMT) would verify maintenance, tire condition, batteries, brakes and related safety points.

Perez said the intended inspection period would be between July and December each year, while the ordinary review would remain in the first semester.

Other Requirements

Primicias reports that driver training would also be a requirement for the fare increase.

The draft package includes:

• Integrated fare-collection system within eight months after ordinance approval
• Fleet-management system starting in January
• User-information system starting in January
• More control and inspection of units and drivers
• Visible complaint channels in every unit
• Security cameras in buses

Compensation Until 2027

Quito plans to allocate $20 million in compensation to transport operators to avoid raising the fare before the end of 2026.

Primicias reports that this equals $6,000 per operator, based on about 3,300 units circulating in Quito.

The new fare would start on January 1, 2027, if the requirements are approved and met.

What This Means For Expats

For Quito residents, this is not just a five-cent fare story. It is about whether the bus system gets safety reviews, cameras, route information and better complaint channels before riders pay more.

If you rely on buses in Quito, watch the ordinance more than the headline fare.

Source: Primicias