Floripa Bus System - Suzie

 

Getting around Floripa is pretty easy because they have such a great public transportation system. 

They have a well-developed bus system that goes pretty much over the whole island.  

Tickets

A bus fare costs $4.50R (about 90 cents) and can be paid in cash (Reais) at the front of the bus to

the driver.  Alternatively, you can buy a passe rapido. .  The pass is available at all bus stations, of

which there are six on the island and can be charged with as much money as you would like.  Then

you don’t have to pay separately for each ride.  One ride with the pass costs $4.38R.  We will be

buying enough passes so that each room can share one.  When you get on the bus, you hold the

pass up to the screen and it turns green, which allows you to pass through the turnstile. You can

use the pass to get as many people through the turnstile as are in your current group.  The buses

are free to ride on Sundays.

Bus Routes

All the buses are connected to each other via central terminals.  This means that you can change

buses at these stations without paying the fee angina for the next bus.  To get from one place to

another, you may have to change buses.  They have a website to help you plan your trips.  There is also a really convenient app called Floripanoponto that tells

you everything you  need to know about using the bus, including how to get from place to place

wherever you are.

Catching the bus

Once you consult the app and know what bus you want and where the nearest bus stop is, you will

need to wait at that bus stop and watch for your bus.  Make sure you are at the bus stop on the right

side of the street for the direction you want to go.  The buses have digital signs on the front of the bus

listing what bus number it is.  You have to watch for it and step out and hold up your hand because

the bus driver won’t stop unless he sees you do that.  

Getting off the bus

To get yourself off the bus, just pull the cord that runs along the top above the seats.  Pull it when

you are about a block away from the stop so the driver knows you need the next stop.  If you get

confused and pull it by accident, just remain seated and don’t say anything and hopefully nobody

will know it is you.  “Com licenca!  Desculpa!”  (Excuse me, I’m sorry!)

Be brave!  Just try it!  What’s the worst that can happen?? The worst that can happen is that you

get on the wrong bus and travel far from where you were trying to go and then when they try to

help you figure out what the heck you are doing, you can’t talk to them because you don’t speak

Portuguese.  And you have to stay on the bus until it circles back around to where you were in the

beginning because you don’t know what else to do.  That’s all happened to me.  And I am still standing.