Struggles for Sustainable Urban Development in Cochabamba, Bolivia

Sometimes the drivers are very keen to get their demands satisfied. In July 2002 some free
drivers had a hunger strike, supported by protest marches, demanding that the municipality
would guarantee their right to work in the city (Los Tiempos July 23, 2002). At the same time
Los Tiempos reported of an alliance between the federated transport and a major political
party Nueva Fuerza Repúblicana (NFR), while the free transport lowered their mass transit fees
as a way to combat the federated transport. Later, these developments lead to the legalisation
of some of the free transport’s routes, which in turn, was heavily criticised by the federated
transport (Los Tiempos July 30, 2002).
A distinct characteristic of urban politics in Cochabamba is the way different stakeholders
fiercely defend their interests. Different parties, especially the public transport drivers, seem
short-sighted and selfish with their demands. Fanny Suarez from the city council calls both,
the free and federated sectors of transports, to prioritise the demands of the population and
not just think of their own economic benefits (Los Tiempos July 25, 2002) On the other
hand with the background of Bolivian economic reality the drivers’ self-interest is easy to
understand. The livelihoods of a lot of people depend on decisions concerning urban
transport, and they are ready to fight to be able to sustain their families. Still, the editorial of
El Deber (March 25, 2002) makes a point about urban public transport in Santa Cruz de la
Sierra that should be considered by all stakeholders in Cochabamba as well: no one, including
the authorities, transport companies, drivers or general public, wants to understand that
chaos of transport will, in the short and long run, hurt everyone. It tries to send a message
that cooperation would lead to improved quality of life for all.
Power relations
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