Protesters set up permanent camp in Cuernavaca against transport fare hike; most are elderly

A permanent protest camp has been established in the center of Cuernavaca by members of the "Gustavo Salgado" Collective. The demonstrators are voicing strong opposition to the planned increase in public transport fares, which will see the price rise from 10 to 13 pesos starting July 1. The group, comprising mostly elderly citizens and led by Morena councilor Gabriel Rivas Ríos, marched through the city to express their discontent.

Protesters highlighted that the current public transport units are in poor condition. They also raised concerns that discounts for seniors are often not honored. Individuals using wheelchairs noted that the announced free rides for people with disabilities are not a practical benefit, as most routes lack the necessary accessibility features for boarding.

Currently, wheelchair users can only utilize a limited number of "Health Routes," with only four such units serving the entire Cuernavaca metropolitan area. This scarcity significantly restricts their daily mobility. While authorities initially announced free transport for seniors, students, and people with disabilities, a compromise was reached with transport operators. This agreement maintains a preferential fare of five pesos for seniors upon presentation of their INAPAM identification, instead of complete gratuity.

Jorge Alberto Barrera Toledo, the general coordinator of Mobility and Transport, explained that the goal is to support the economy of seniors while working towards broader benefits and ensuring the system's operational stability. He mentioned that presenting the INAPAM card will be necessary for the reduced fare, though a grace period will be allowed for those who do not yet possess the document. Authorities estimate that approximately 120,000 seniors in the Cuernavaca metropolitan area could benefit from this preferential scheme.

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the gratuity announced for people with disabilities does not represent a real benefit, since the majority of the routes do not have accessibility conditions for their boarding.