Medellin, Colombia was once known as one of the most dangerous cities in the world. Narco trafficking and poverty in the 1980s and 90s made the Northern Colombian city a hotbed of violence. The city has improved a lot since those dark times, and is now a bustling metropolis with a fast-growing economy.
One of the reasons behind Medellin’s revitalization might be a little surprising: enormous outdoor escalators. The hill-hugging neighborhood Comuna 13 was one of the worst areas in Medellin in the 90s. Its residents hiked up a hill the equivalent of 28 stories to get to the neighborhood, and the lack of easy transportation there made it a popular refuge for criminals. Now that the neighborhood is easily accessible by a quick escalator ride, tourists and people from other neighborhoods in Medellin visit frequently, cutting down on violence and bringing business to the once-impoverished neighborhood.
In addition to their economic value, the escalators look spectacular, carrying riders up to one of the best views in Medellin. The escalators are just one component of Medellin’s innovative public transportation system, which also uses gondolas to traverse hilly terrain.
Read the full article here: How Giant Outdoor Escalators Transformed a Colombian Neighborhood
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