The number of cars on the city’s radar is recorded only two thousand legalized vans… But one of the unions in the RioÔnibus sector notes that others eight thousand housing and communal services go without inspection.

The City of Rio is responsible for overseeing the transport sector, which has been transformed into lucrative business for gangs.

In recent days, RJ2 has revealed that there are few shares in Rio and has reached out to the mayor’s office to discuss measures that could reduce criminals’ control over the city’s transportation system, but no representative wanted to record the interview.

“It’s terrible, terrible that governments are looking more at this area. That everyone has the right to come and go without paying, because I pay for the work. This does not exist, you have to pay for the work. we must look further, ”said the driver, who did not introduce himself for security reasons.

According to city sources consulted by RJ2, the lack of checks is due to political defenses known as the van parking lot.

Two advisors were prominently mentioned: Alexander Izquierdo (DEM) e Filipe Michel (PP)… They even belong to the Transport Committee of the City Council.

The main group of van drivers is the Defense Alternative Transport Movement (MDTA). None of the band members wanted to be interviewed. Councilor Filipe Michel appears in the group’s profile video in support of drivers.

When faced with a complaint that he might interfere with the verification, the adviser stated that the complaint is unfair and a liar: “I am the politician who most accuses the city of Rio of fighting piracy, the illegal transport that haunts the city of Rio, mainly because of the traffic.”

Counselor Alexander Izquierdo said that have no effect on the van inspection process.

“This is an unfounded lie. The City Hall, the Transport Commission do not interfere in this, we do not even have powers. Even because if a secretary or a technician does it, he is evading an answer, ”said the congressman.

“So, I want to say here that there are no requests for illegality from the Transport Commission, especially from me,” he added.

The driver, whom RJ2 heard, claims that corrupt government agents, police and drug dealers are involved in the criminal network of pirate vans. It is impossible to drive a van in Rio without fueling corruption, he said.

“We eat from their hands. This is the mafia, this is wild, ”he says.

According to him, the collection of drug dealers and the police are financed. also a bribe for government officials.

Minibuses are part of the so-called local public transport system – SPTL. In general, including other systems, 3680 are eligible for distribution.

A few days ago, the mayor’s office began receiving e-ticket data from city vans. A dispute arises over control of the system and the municipality has promised to hold a new tender.

Data doesn’t show reality

Roughly 2,000 SPTL vans carried at least 9.7 million passengers in July.

However, these figures show only a fraction of the passengers, as the data only includes tickets paid for by card and tickets paid for in cash were not counted.

On buses, 22% of trips are paid in cash. In vans, this number is certainly higher: there are cars that do not even have a validator, and in many lines the passenger is usually required to pay in cash.

This number also does not include pirate vans. A poll by bus companies recorded the numbers of vans at various points in the city. Average, one car was allowed for the other four cars without a permit…

“Today we are working on the count of about 10 thousand minibuses, including legalized ones. There would be about 8000 illegal ones, ”says Rio Ônibus spokesman Paulo Valente.

Thus, about 10 million trips recorded by the city do not include pirate vans, which are in the majority.

On this basis, Rio Ônibus, the union representing the sector, already believes that vans are the main transport system on wheels in the city, carrying up to 60 million passengers a month.

“Today we can say that vans carry more than 50% of passengers who previously traveled only by bus,” said a union spokesman.

Disrespect for tips

Data from the city shows that the tip law is not respected when transporting minibuses. Almost 10 million people used vans in July, with just over 300,000 enjoying some free benefit, which is only 3% of travel.

By comparison, over the same period, 14% of bus users used buses free of charge – out of 48 million trips, there were 7 million benefits.

“I use it sometimes, there is transport that cannot be obtained, the van does not accept it, we have to pay. I pay, this is a right that has no right. Van, don’t even think about it,” the elderly woman says.

The city reported that the Department of Special Transport conducts ongoing checks throughout the municipality.

In addition to countering disruption to secondary vehicles, these operations are aimed at suppressing these groups, which use sentinels to track inspection routes in the city and even use real-time messaging apps to bypass and disrupt agents. how and where the operations are carried out.

The City also says that between January and this Thursday (26), more than 10,600 fines and 9,000 fines were recorded, and that more than 1,200 vans were towed.

The city administration did not respond to accusations of political interference in the fight against illegal vans.