More than 40 popular organizations in the capital of Minas Gerais launched, on Tuesday (8), the “Busão 0800” campaign. The objective of the entities is to present to the City Council a bill (PL) that eliminates the fare collection on buses in Belo Horizonte. Currently, the amount charged is R$ 4.50, one of the highest in the country.
The activity, in which the bill’s draft was presented for the first time, took place at the School of Architecture and Urbanism of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and was attended by six councilors from the municipality.
Urban planner Roberto Andrés, who accompanied the elaboration of the proposal, points out that, if it comes into force, the project will be beneficial for the entire population and even for the city’s economy.
“Zero tariff is not a speculation, but a reality in almost 80 cities (in Brazil). In addition to significantly increasing the use of buses and reducing traffic, this policy makes people consume more, because the money that went to transport now goes to commerce. In addition, it provides greater access to the city, culture, squares, health and education”, he argues.
:: Mayor of Belo Horizonte vetoes zero tariffs on Sundays and holidays ::
fundraising strategy
To make it possible to end the charge, the project creates a mechanism in which companies with more than nine employees need to make a monthly contribution of R$ 172 per worker. Per day, the amount is close to R$ 5 per person, less than what the user pays for two daily rates.
The value of the contribution represents 3% of the average salary cost in Belo Horizonte and, although it is small for large companies, it allows the municipality to raise more than R$ 2 billion. The 51,755 micro and small companies in the capital would be exempt from payment.
“The amount, adding all the companies that will contribute, is enough to zero the tariff in the municipality, improving the city for all people. This is the main change. 80% of the companies in the municipality will not need to participate in the contribution. And, the collection is generated from a small contribution”, explains Roberto Andrés.
:: Treated as a ‘utopian agenda’, zero tariff is a reality in ten municipalities in Paraná ::
participation of councilors
One of the parliamentarians who were present at the launch of the proposal, councilor Bruno Pedralva (PT), highlighted the importance of a project that guarantees public transport as a right.
“During the discussions on public transport that we held at the City Council this year, we achieved some important advances, such as the free student pass. However, it was very clear that we need and can have a much more advanced proposal, which treats public transport as a de facto right”, he published on social networks.
State deputy Bella Gonçalves (PSOL), who was also at the event, invited more parliamentarians to position themselves in favor of the project.
“We are committed to collective construction with the various political forces in the city. We invite more councilors to express their support for the proposal and show that they aim to transform urban mobility in BH, improving the lives of all people”, he said.
In the next few days, the movements will continue to involve more supporters in the campaign to subsequently file the proposal with the Belo Horizonte City Council.
Source: BdF Minas Gerais
Editing: Rodrigo Chagas and Larissa Costa
