R$5 taxi starts operating in Rio Branco after bus seizure; see how it will work

R$5 ride-hailing taxi starts operating in Rio Branco Rio Branco City Hall authorized, on a temporary basis, the operation of ride-hailing taxis to try to reduce the impacts caused by the reduction in the public transport fleet in the capital. The measure comes into force this Wednesday (1st) after the judicial seizure of 38 buses from the Ricco Transportes e Turismo Company. According to the Municipal Transport and Traffic Superintendence (RBTrans), the service will serve the neighborhood/Center and Center/neighborhood routes. The fare will be R$5 per passenger, each way. The value is higher than the bus ticket, which remains at R$3.50 for general users and R$1 for students. ? Join the g1 AC channel on WhatsApp ? Context: The authorization takes place one day after the seizure of 38 Ricco vehicles, in the early hours of Tuesday (30), as determined by the Court. Since then, passengers have faced long lines at stops, crowded buses and increased waiting times. The situation also led the Federal University of Acre (Ufac) to suspend undergraduate classes this Wednesday (1st) and Thursday (2nd). R$5 capacity taxi starts operating in Rio Branco after bus seizure Pedro Marcelo/Rede Amazônica Acre According to RBTrans, the service will be provided by regularized taxi drivers and will be available for as long as the emergency situation caused by the reduction of the fleet lasts. Passenger boarding and disembarking will take place in front of Galeria Cunha, on Rua Quintino Bocaiúva, in the Center, with reference to the square close to the José de Melo Stadium. The superintendent of RBTrans, Colonel Marcos Roberto da Silva Coutinho, informed that an ordinance must be published authorizing the provision of the service by registered taxi drivers, on an exceptional basis. According to the agency, the measure seeks to expand the population's travel options while part of the bus fleet remains unavailable. READ MORE: Ufac classes are suspended due to the reduction in the public transport fleet in Rio Branco Technical tariff of R$ 11.29 is approved for a company that must take over public transport in Rio Branco Company that operates public transport in Rio Branco demands payment of R$ 30 million; RBTrans denies debt The superintendency also reported that some bus lines continue to operate, but with a reduced number of vehicles. Therefore, it advises passengers to follow the timetables and follow the instructions of traffic agents during the period in which the emergency measure is in operation. Bus taxis are used by passengers who depend on public transport in Rio Branco Richard Lauriano/Rede Amazônica RBTrans also advised that the population only use regularized taxis and informed that it will maintain inspections to curb illegal transport activities and irregular charges. ?The situation occurs just a few days before the end of Ricco Transportes e Turismo's emergency contract with Rio Branco City Hall. The company will be replaced by JTP Transports, Services, Management and Human Resources LTDA, which should operate the new transport. Rio Branco public transport buses are seized What passengers say about the service The implementation of the public transport taxi divided the opinion of passengers who depend on public transport daily. While some consider the alternative important to avoid delays, others say that the service still faces delays. Farmer Maria Honório said she left her home, in the Sobral neighborhood, in the morning to go to the National Social Security Institute (INSS). On the way back, he decided not to go to the Urban Terminal because he believed it would take even longer to get a bus, but he says he also found it difficult to board the taxi. "I came from Sobral, I took the bus in the morning and came to INSS. As the buses are limited, I thought I wouldn't go to the terminal because I was going to get home at noon. So I stayed here at the Sobral taxi stop and I've been there for more than half an hour. I think it's more difficult than the bus itself. It's difficult. What was supposed to help, ended up getting in the way", he reported. Cook Elizângela da Silva assessed that the measure helps those who need to get to work and cannot wait for buses. "Since 6:40 am I was at the bus stop and there was no bus. So I asked for a shared taxi to get to work, because if we don't have the means to order a shared taxi, we arrive late for work. The buses break down, there are no windows for the wind to run through and they are always crowded. It's a sacrifice," he said. Maria Honório and Elizângela da Silva reported different experiences with the public transport on the first day of the emergency measure in Rio Branco Richard Lauriano / Rede Amazônica Despite the difficulties faced in public transport, Elizângela stated that she considers the creation of the public transport to be positive during the period of fleet reduction. "I thought this R$5 measure was good, because if it weren't for them helping us, we would be at the stop waiting for buses. The drivers are also not to blame, they are working because they need to. The measure was good", he added. Court decision This Tuesday (30), the Acre Court seized 38 buses from Ricco Transportes e Turismo, the company responsible for public transport in the capital. Without vehicles circulating, students, as well as other passengers, face inconvenience with crowding at bus stops. According to the Acre Court of Justice (TJ-AC), the court order provides for the seizure of 50 company buses. The decision was made by the Court of Precatory Letters and was carried out by a court official at around 3:50 am this Tuesday, with support from the Judicial Police. Still according to the Court, a precatory letter from the Federal District ordered the repossession of 50 buses from Transportadora São José do Tocantins and Expresso São José LTDA due to Ricco's debt of almost R$3 million. The preliminary decision was preferred by the 25th Civil Court of Brasília. To g1, the superintendent of RBTrans stated, just this Tuesday, that the decision has nothing to do with the city hall and that it is taking all appropriate legal measures to guarantee the essential service. Police were at the Urban Terminal bus garage this Tuesday (30) Richard Lauriano / Rede Amazônica To Rede Amazônica Acre, Ricco confirmed that there are only 48 buses circulating in the capital since Tuesday. In total, each line has only one vehicle. Ricco's co-owner, Bruna Fernandes Dias, stated that the company will appeal the court decision. This is not the first time that Ricco buses have been the target of legal action. In July 2024, the São Paulo Court ordered the search and seizure of 16 company vehicles after late payment of bus financing installments. VIDEOS: g1