Panel SA: After taking clowns on buses, charter companies make another protest against inspection

In the dispute between regular bus companies and charterers for the collective travel transport market, Abrafrec (an association that represents charter companies) made another demonstration to complain about the inspection of Artesp (Transport Agency of the State of São Paulo) this Tuesday (20).

The group took a birthday cake to the door of the agency to say that it completed one year of what they call the “persecution” of inspection against their companies.

A few weeks ago, Abrafrec made another protest, taking clowns as passengers on a bus approached by inspectors. Abrafrec says it wants to satirize the situation and draw attention to the dispute. According to the association, there were more than 800 seizures in the fleet of charterers and tour operators in the last year.

To the SA Panel, Artesp says that it has been in dialogue with the companies and cooperatives of the so-called collaborative charter, but that the safety rules need to be complied with by all service providers.

“Artesp can only ratify what is provided for by law and have the obligation to inspect and prevent risky practices, such as irregular sale of individual tickets without authorization and passengers embarking and disembarking outside the accredited terminals. The agency’s objective is to preserve the people who travel on São Paulo’s highways. When bus passengers are transported outside the regular system, they are subject to boarding buses that have not completed prior technical and safety inspections established by legislation”, says the agency.

The movement has intensified in recent months, after companies that work with charter got together and formed Abrafrec to defend their vision of the market amid the arm wrestling with traditional bus companies that accuse startups of unfair competition and not following the regulation.

Joana Cunha with Paulo Ricardo Martins and Diego Felix