TransMiCable

TransMiCable is a cable car system in Bogota, Colombia, primarily designed to facilitate easier access for residents of Ciudad Bolívar from the mountaintop to the foot of the mountain. The cable cars utilize electrically driven cable technology, resulting in zero emissions and seamlessly integrating with Colombia's power grid (70% powered by renewable hydropower).

Waste: Waste of resources? Is the social value and benefit brought by the construction of the cable car worth investing so many resources? If its not can the project itself be considered a form of waste? Because the construction of TransMiCable brings both benefits and negative impacts, evaluating them becomes a key factor.

Tyres During the operation of the cable car, aside from the waste generated from maintenance, the largest source of waste are the tyres that are replaced and cannot be effectively reused; if not properly managed, they can become a source of urban pollution.

Pollution: Lighting interruption The privacy of nearby inhabitants The operation of the cable car also produces more subtle relational impacts. Vibrations and lighting from the running cabins affect residents’ daily rhythms and bodily experiences, while the cable line’s proximity to upper-floor apartments compromises their privacy. In this context, we can consider its impact on local residents as a form of pollution. (Natalia Rojas, 2020)

Connection: Tire-museum-artwork The construction of the cable car indirectly caused waste. With the emergence of more convenient transportation options in the area, traditional public transport gradually fell into disuse. The local art museum, Museo Libre, utilized parts from these abandoned public transport vehicles, primarily using discarded tyres as a form of artistic expression. This approach both reduced pollution and allowed the pollutants to be regenerated within the local culture.

Station-museum-exhibition Museo Libre previously held exhibitions in the undercommons of TransMiCable.

The Manitas station has previously been used to exhibit the La Rueda exhibition.

The city of Bogotá is now actively promoting deeper integration between TransMiCable and cultural and social development (TransMilenio S.A., 2018). TransMiCable is not merely a transport route or part of the public transport system; it can also extend its reach to surrounding areas, facilitating cultural exchange and conveying intangible values.

TransMiCable forms part of Bogotá's integrated public transport system, having facilitated residents' journeys since its completion (TransMilenio S.A., 2018). However, behind the construction project—completed in just 26 months with a USD$100 million investment for the city's mass transit system (Maricio Osorio, 2019)—waste has been generated. This includes observable waste from vehicles and tyres post-completion, which cannot be overlooked. Indeed, the project's convenience has had negligible impact on compulsory activities (Cardona-Urrea, Soza-Parra and Ettema, 2025) and has not altered social structures or deeper societal aspects. While one cannot demand such outcomes from a transport project, it still warrants reflection on its underlying implications.

Reference:

Cardona-Urrea, S., Soza-Parra, J. and Ettema, D. (2025). Activity participation among disadvantaged communities and the impact of an aerial cable car: The case of TransMiCable, Bogotá. Cities, 169, p.106568. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2025.106568.

Rojas, N., López, A. & Carreño, S. (2020) Transmicable impact. Tekhnê, 17(1), pp. 13–24. Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas. Available at: https://revistas.udistrital.edu.co/index.php/tekhne/article/view/16085

TransMilenio (2018). Abecé de TransMiCable. [online] TransMilenio. Available at: https://www.transmilenio.gov.co/publicaciones/151067/abece-de-transmicable/.

Osorio, M. (2019) ‘TransMiCable: Bogotá’s commuter lifeline is a high-flying attraction’, The City Paper Bogotá, 21 February. Available at: https://thecitypaperbogota.com/bogota/transmicable-bogotas-commuter-lifeline-is-a-high-flying-attraction/ (Accessed: 7 November 2025).