Summer, carnival, and transit fare hikes: the beginning of the year in Brazil is typically when municipal and state governments announce increases in public transportation fares. While these fares were frozen in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, many cities have faced hikes once again in 2022. Understanding the impact of rising public transportation fares on our society is crucial.
While mobility is understood as a civil right and a duty of the state—as outlined by the Statute of the City and established by Law 12,587/12 on urban mobility—neoliberal policies treat transportation as a commodity, governed strictly by market logic. Public transportation in Brazilian cities is organized and managed by private operators; consequently, profit is often prioritized over users' needs. This ideological divergence makes navigating the city difficult, hindering access to jobs, schools, universities, cultural venues, and leisure spaces, with profound social and spatial repercussions.
