Colombian city gets giant, outdoor escalator

[margerydaw_s2]

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - Officials in Colombia's second-largest city on Monday inaugurated a giant, outdoor escalator for residents of one of its poorest neighborhoods.

For generations, the 12,000 residents of Medellin's tough Comuna 13, which clings to the side of a steep hillside, have had to climb hundreds of large steps authorities say is the

Comments

[benihime99]

I don't know but why didn't they used those $6.7 million to provide citizen with better housing?

[sephystabbity]

Because this is also a worthwhile project?

[margerydaw_s2]

Was trying to think of an answer to that.

Also, idk, but I imagine for someone who's lived in the same place their entire life, it's probably not as simple as just moving somewhere better?

[benihime99]

I don't deny that but I would think providing people with beter housing is more important.
Apparently this is a very poor area which "suffered the greatest urban violence" I'm sure people need other things

[sephystabbity]

This is good news, I like it.

[margerydaw_s2]

I like it, too. And I also like that they're seeing if it can work in Rio.

(deleting the other since I posted it in the wrong place)

[sephystabbity]

Yeah I really hope this turns out well, because its success will hopefully inspire more funding to be put into improving the place.

[margerydaw_s2]

Exactly! Good results can mean more interest in making more improvements. And the citizens are happy with this, so... YAY.

[atomic_joe2]

This is great and everything but what about when it gets wet will it stop working?

[benihime99]

"Authorities plan to build a covering for inclement whether."

[darsynia]

Heh, yeah that's what I was wondering. The only other place I've been with outdoor escalators was Vegas, and while they do get rain, I suspect it rains more where they built this one (just looked it up, yep, a lot more).

[chibi_lurrel]

This is fucking cool.

[tabaqui]

Very cool. I can't even imagine someone like my mom - 77, short of breath, bad knees - trying to walk up or down a grade that steep once a week, much less once a day. Also a huge boon to parents with little kids and anyone with any kind of physical disability.