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"La Rolita" – the city's first public transport operator – is the result of an effort to revolutionise urban transport with a vision of sustainability and gender equality. With a fleet of 195 electric buses and 60% female drivers, La Rolita serves outskirts where transport did not reach a few years ago. This initiative has benefited more than 35,000 users in key areas such as Perdomo, the industrial zone and Fontibón.
The bus company combines electrification with women's economic empowerment, transforming the socio-environmental landscape of the public transport. This approach reflects a strong commitment to gender equity and inclusion in the public transport sector, which has historically been male-dominated.
This innovative example is worthy of being replicated in other Latin American cities. That is where the CALAC+ programme comes in. The programme operates in Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. Representatives from Mexico, Chile, Peru and Norway, among others, were able to learn about La Rolita during the Regional Conference on Zero Emissions in Public Transport.
Bogotá now has an implessive fleet of 1485 electric buses – the second largest battery bus fleet in the world outside of China. La Rolita stands out with 195 buses within the city. The bus company has reached a milestone in training and offering test drives to new female drivers, from the initial C2 driver's license to operating on the city's Integrated Public Transport System (SITP) operational routes.
La Rolita sends a clear message of inclusiveness and gender equity: with a staff of 600 employees, 472 drive buses and 60% are women.
Initiatives such as La Rolita not only promote environmental sustainability, but also equal opportunities in the workplace, demonstrating that innovation and gender equality can go hand in hand in the transformation of public transport.
The Climate and Clean Air in Latin American Cities (CALAC+) programme is financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by Swisscontact in four countries in Latin America.