The “owls”, half a century to the sound of the Madrid night

It was in October 1974, in the early morning of the first of the tenth month, and the city saw the first “owls”, these sleepless buses which, from midnight to six o’clock, have since seen and seen compatriots pass by. by illuminated by city lights. It was exactly ten years since the first Japanese “bullet train” between Tokyo and Osaka was inaugurated. History has it that it was scandalous, and at the stops, already at the end of the year, the fashion was the duffle coat, the Gauloise on the mouth, and the hair as worn by Joan Manuel Serrat making “the ‘longer wait’. tender’. Shortly after, a date now distant and endearing, these cars passed from the status of “Night Circuit” to the name of the bird which symbolizes wisdom and darkness: the owl. The ‘owls’…Related news standard No Farewell to private rental bikes in Madrid Helena Cortés According to sources from the Government Urban Planning Department, they will not renew the corresponding authorizations, which expired on September 30, because “Bicimad provides service to the entire city and the operators did not deploy the vehicles they should have 1974 was a time of change and so the Municipal Transport Company organized transport for those whose schedules were going out, but not so much. , of the ordinary These first “owls” were eleven lines which connected the heart of Madrid to the suburbs of the time: Hortaleza, Canillejas, Moratalaz, Vallecas, San Cristóbal de los Ángeles, Villaverde Alto, Carabanchel, Cuatro Vientos, Lacoma. , Fuencarral and Manoteras And they did it from Cibeles, at fixed times, so that the goddess knew clearly who to talk to at inopportune moments madrid_dia_070315 pesetas was the rate that was paid with sleep or the desire to leave, including the. travel with the connection to Cibeles. The buses traveled 254.35 kilometers and during the first quarter of this year, 1974, full of changes, they transported 223,342 passengers. Along with nighttime, security, and presumed, respectable treason, transportation is of course one of the clearest reflections of a city’s growth, not only in terms of demographics and data, but also in terms of party and leisure habits under the Moon. . Half a century has passed, and of the eleven inaugural lines, today there are 29 that cross the capital at times that normally do not have morning traffic and this is what another one looks like city. According to figures provided by the town hall, during the year 2024, 5,286,598 travelers boarded an “owl”, almost triple the 1,941,996 in 1974. Something which silently explains the mode of life of Madrid residents who, today, have these night-time cars. which cover 774.42 kilometers, or 200% more asphalt since the time when these cars were still children between roundabouts. In half a century, there are stages that must be cited in this historical account of an invention of the city which extended to the major Spanish capitals: in 1994, the service was remodeled to 20 lines in the aim of reaching all neighborhoods. And now, of course, the Plaza de Cibeles was established as the common head of all the lines. In addition, the transport ticket became the ordinary ticket, the morning ticket, and for 125 pesetas, you could travel around the city between the streetlights. Another highlight occurred in 2002, when the night line underwent a restructuring, 24 radial lines were introduced from Sunday to Thursday and two more circular lines on Fridays, Saturdays and the inevitable eve of holidays. Hours were extended and night “buses” provided service from a quarter past eleven in the evening until six in the morning. MORE INFORMATION news No What will happen with the discounts on public transport in Madrid from December news No This Madrid. Metro transfer will disappear: planned date, line concerned and new stations In the same spirit, from 2006 to 2013, the “metro owls” traveled underground at the initiative of the Madrid Regional Transport Consortium: eleven lines with routes. more or less concomitant with those of buses. This, without counting the necessary express line between Cibeles and Barajas airport. If in 2017 six lines expanded their routes, a year later the N28 line was launched, bringing the total to 27 routes which will be expanded last year with two new circular lines for the night. 15 minutes of waiting and a profit, according to the municipality, to 64% of the total network. Less time outside and the center is even closer.

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