Quito: Ecuador's Capital in Motion

Students and faculty at PUCE built SeñaPUCE with deaf students, combining four free digital tools for learning Ecuadorian sign language, practicing mathematics, and recognizing signs with artificial intelligence.

Archaeological monitoring at Quito's former San Lazaro Hospital uncovered 11 fired-clay vessels beneath the western cloister. The discovery comes during a restoration of the 7,000-square-meter historic complex.

A proposal to raise Quito's bus fare from 35 to 40 cents on January 1, 2027 drew criticism from council members and 23 citizens. The debate now turns on service quality, transparency, and compensation for operators.

Quito says its free public bike system will begin operating between July 28 and July 30. The new QuitoBici network includes 250 bicycles, 25 stations, GPS tracking, and links to Metro, Trole, and Ecovia routes.

Work begins July 27 on Avenida 12 de Octubre between Cristobal Colon and Tarqui. The 70-day project affects the center-north of Quito, with alternate routes planned for private vehicles and public transport.

Repaving work starts July 24 and runs through August 25, affecting a major northern Quito access corridor in two phases.

Quito is debating a transit ordinance that would set an urban bus fare of USD 0.40 from January 1, 2027, subject to council approval. The proposal also outlines rural variable fares and a USD 0.45 electric-bus fare.

Cumbayá’s regulated parking system has 674 spaces while an estimated 30,000 vehicles use parking throughout a typical day. Local officials have proposed a parking structure with more than 480 spaces, but say they have not yet received a response from Quito’s municipality.

Quito has at least 72,020 residents with disabilities, but damaged sidewalks, missing signage, broken tactile guides and informal commerce still make daily mobility difficult. The issue affects people with disabilities, older adults, parents with strollers and everyday pedestrians.