Riding the colectivo is a daily part of life in Buenos Aires. Colectivos are what locals call public buses, and during the daytime, they own the streets. It's rare to find one in the morning that isn't packed. And because the subway closes at 11 p.m., colectivos are usually the best option for late-night transportation as well. Buses run 24 hours down here, so even though late at night you might be waiting on a deserted street for 40 minutes, you at least know you're getting home eventually.
Finding the right bus can be a little intimidating at first. Before I became familiar with four or five of the routes that run near my apartment, I would spend upwards of half an hour leafing through the Guia T booklet, attempting in vain to match up streets with bus stops until I gave up and hailed a taxi. Those days are behind me, however; now I just use Google Maps and comoviajo.com to tell me what to do.
When in a foreign part of town for the first time, the first thing I notice are the buses. The kiosks, the buildings, the people, they all might look the same as those in any other neighborhood. But in a new area, the buses -- the ones you've never seen because they don't drive anywhere near your house or your school or your favorite bar -- always stand out. Each one has a unique design, and adds a splash of color to the streets.
With that, I found it appropriate to rate the colectivos. Not by timeliness or efficiency, even though it kills me when I see an uninterrupted line of six 108 buses when all I need is one in the other freaking direction. And not by pleasantness of ride, because that honor would go to any bus outfitted with LCD screens and blue mood lights. Instead, I'll evaluate the colectivos by the first thing one notices about them: their outer design.
The champion
Línea 68 — If the other buses on this list are rolling pieces of art, then the 68 is a masterpiece. According to Wikipedia, the design is the work of a studio hired by the bus company, and the professionalism shows. Against the white background, the rounded, off-center 68 draws the attention of the viewer, and is accentuated by the disconnected circle surrounding it. The black and soft blue tiles, ostensibly without pattern, give the work a sense of spontaneity. The brilliant use of negative space allows the bold colors to jump out. Even its web site is silky smooth. This is a bus you stop and stare at as it whizzes past you. This is a modern classic.
Best of the rest
Línea 1 — There's a reason this bus is number one. Against a smooth yellow background, a thick sky blue bar wraps around the front of the vehicle. A subtle but powerful navy bar at the colectivo's base provides the foundation that lets the innovative colors above it to shine.
Línea 46 — As with a few of these colectivos, I've never seen the 46 in person, but leafing through the Guia T, I am always intrigued by its simple yet elegant design. The fluid blue curves adorning the sides represent movement and exude class, while the typeface at the top suggests playfulness and adventure.
Línea 51 — The 51 manages to rise above the other members of the diagonal-line genre with a creative color scheme and an intelligent use of secondary colors. Along with its lookalikes, which include the 79 and the 154, the 51 wisely supplements its sleek, red-and-white stripes with an azure background and two horizontal strips of yellow running down the top and middle. The bold red filling in the edges of the doors and windows is a stroke of genius.
Línea 53 — The 53 takes a chance by having three differently colored sections and no definitive primary color. The risk pays off, however, as the blue, light yellow and green create a balance that turns this bus into a piece of artwork. Much like the flag of Gabon, this colectivo stands out while its peers blend in with the crowd.
Close, but need some work
Línea 39 — I give the 39 bus props for creativity — its tilted, extra-large numbers set it apart from the field. The 39 is also the only colectivo I've seen with customized bus stop signs, using the fat 39 logo rather than the traditional typeface at some stops. But the brown and tan color scheme is what prevents this bus from the pantheon. Something about it is a little too 1970s for me.
Línea 113 — The beige, electric blue and gold color combination would create a nice balance on its own. But the black and white stripes down the side are distracting, and ultimately give the viewer simply too much to look at.
Failures
Línea 17 — Monochrome isn't necessarily a bad thing. But when your one color is a sickly electric teal you should probably reconsider. The racecar number with accompanying orange and blue stripes scream early 1990s. I feel sorry for anyone who has had to ride this bus, and if I lived along its route I would probably move to a new house just to avoid looking directly at this blinding hunk of bus-torture.
Línea 41 — In its defense, the 41 has some tough competition, as it drives alongside the 68 for part of its route. Still, the all-yellow is a little off-putting and reminds me of a school bus or taxicab. Thickening the black and white lines would help this bus not make its passengers cry at night. Or it could even just throw a bee or a flower on the side like half the other buses do.
Note: In researching for this list I only evaluated colectivos that operate within the city of Buenos Aires. All freaky and enigmatic provincia buses were excluded.
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