Yesterday, all the buses that once served to energize the city gathered. Walking through the landscape of light, there was a nostalgic line of old blue-white, red and yellow cars, depending on the decade of birth. Their function remains the same: if before they transported people to their homes, now, renovated for the occasion, they transport citizens to their most intimate memories. Everything that is profoundly everyday ends up being resignified as heritage; the prize for its well-deserved retirement. It was in this atmosphere that the Great Mobility Festival took place in Madrid, on the occasion of the European Car-Free Day.
The Botanical Garden and the Prado Museum were visited by old acquaintances, brought from the museum of the Municipal Transport Company. The Leyland, which came from England 70 years ago, with the steering wheel on the right, the double cabin and its emblematic sign at the top: ‘Veteran’, was present. Then the successors bowed down: the Pegasi.
These are the blue Pegaso 6035A, which was in circulation until 1983; the Pegaso Sava, a yellow car, which lasted until 1989. Also the Pegaso 6038, red and in service until the last year of the 20th century. And finally, the 6425A, which lasted until 2005. Then came the Renault Citybus which was until 2005. 2010, followed by those that are still current, until we arrive at what, until this weekend, was the biggest novelty: the Irizar 2023, fully electric and with an oval and aerodynamic design that transmits the message of modernity. However, like any innovation, it ages sooner or later.
A Madrid resident, amazed by the cars, shouted about the Irizar 2023 bus: It’s the future! To which an equally excited EMT museum attendant replied: “No, it’s the present.” “If you want to see the future, you have to go to the end of the corridor.” And indeed, it was yes, very close to the Cibeles fountain, the new protagonist bowed down: the autonomous bus, which yesterday toured Colón.
The central novelty: that it does not have a driver. Obviously, in the common sense of alarms, the population is naturally reluctant to the apparent absurdity of not having someone to manually control the destination of passengers. There are many reasons for this, but the City Hall wanted to take the opportunity to show the virtues of the aforementioned independent.
The Delegate for Urban Planning, Environment and Mobility, Borja Carabante, boarded the futuristic machine to test this innovation that will accompany the driverless train, which will be in service from 2025.
On the occasion of this festival, carried out in all normality and with great attendance, Carabante said: “It is a day to raise awareness about the use of sustainable mobility and, therefore, the use of public transport, a day to enjoy the living history of the Municipal Transport Company.
In any case, the activities are not limited to the motorized exhibition, because the European Car Free Day would lose its meaning. There was a large area for skating, circuits for skateboarding and cycling, games for children to discover the signage and stands promoting the hiking routes of Madrid.
The promoters of Habitat Madrid were present and offered free tours so that locals and tourists could discover the ecological tourism activities that can be done in the city, with a simple online reservation. “The one I like the most is the Parque del Capricho,” said the promoter. A portable gym and exhibitions on balanced nutrition were also installed.
