A homeless man crawled under a bus in Bogotá while it was stationary and fell asleep. When the bus departed, it traveled several kilometers before bystanders noticed his arm protruding and alerted the driver. He emerged unharmed and was not charged.

Social Context

Colombian traffic law (Law 769 of 2002) prohibits boarding or remaining under vehicles, but enforcement prioritizes public safety over penalization for vulnerable populations. Bogotá’s ‘Right to the City’ policy emphasizes social reintegration over punitive measures for informal survival behaviors.

Safety Tip

Transit operators in megacities should conduct mandatory under-vehicle visual checks before departure, especially at terminals serving marginalized communities.