There is no doubt that Mi Teleférico has transformed La Paz and El Alto, most obviously by physically connecting two previously disparate cities. But according to urban mobility specialist, Ximena León, the impact of a transportation system depends not only on what it does, but also on who is actually able to use it – its real-life accessibility. 

 

To begin our interview, León explained a bit about how successful Mi Teleférico has been in physically connecting La Paz and El Alto. She noted how the cities’ topography makes aerial-cable cars the most viable option, and she highlighted how they are especially important during blockades and traffic disruptions that sometimes occur in the area. 

 

She then briefly discussed how the system’s benefits differ by gender, particularly because of caregiving responsibilities for women – a sentiment that aligns with what gender-based economics specialist, Andrea Alcaraz, and I discussed in our meeting. León drew on an early mobility study from 2012 as well as preliminary findings from a more recent study on violence and harassment in public transportation. She noted how women often perform a disproportionate share of care-giving trips, including things like accompanying relatives to healthcare facilities, taking kids to school, and going grocery shopping. Thus, women’s travel patterns are often shaped by their domestic responsibilities. Additionally, women rely heavily on public transportation because of the volume of the trips that they must make every day, making the Teleférico particularly beneficial to women. Furthermore, León noted the safety of Mi Teleférico, particularly for women. She contrasted female safety on minibuses and other informal transportation in the region with safety on the Teleférico. On informal transportation, she noted, women are more likely to face unsafe or uncomfortable situations, whereas on the Teleférico, with its security cameras and support workers, safety is much more ensured. 

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León then began to discuss accessibility specifically. She noted how affordability still remains a barrier. Taking the Teleférico can often be more expensive than minibuses, and fares can accumulate across multiple lines. She explained how some women interviewed for a recent study said the price discouraged them from using the system, even if it was more efficient or safer. In agreement with other interviewees, she emphasized the importance of an integrated transportation system, including the Teleférico and the informal and formal buses throughout the two cities. 

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In addition to often being financially inaccessible, the cable cars are also sometimes physically inaccessible for certain riders. In most respects, the system has been successful in providing a transportation option for riders with disabilities. The system is designed to be fully accessible for all riders, including those with disabilities. The cars are able to accommodate riders in wheelchairs, for example. The potential accessibility issues relate to accessing the platform where riders enter the cars.  León explained how some stations require passengers to climb numerous stairs to reach them. Though all stations must have elevators, they sometimes are broken, or wheelchair ramps are deteriorated or poorly lit. While León believes the system to be largely accessible, she did put particular emphasis on these points. If she were to improve anything about the system, she said she would improve its accessibility, both economically and physically, for all La Paz and El Alto residents. 

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We ended the interview by discussing future expansion of the system. León explained that the metropolitan area is expanding rapidly and that future transportation planning should account for these growing communities. This could mean expanding beyond the La Paz-El Alto region. It could also mean increasing cabin capacity, which she explained could also increase physical accessibility for passengers, particularly wheel-chair users. 

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León ended the interview with an expression of her hopefulness about the continued expansion of the cable-car system. However, she continued to emphasize how certain accessibility issues must be dealt with in order to create the most integrated, accessible, and efficient transportation system possible. Much of the work is already done, but there continue to be improvements that could further the incredible impacts of this system.