"Believe me! This group will change your routine. " This is the promise in the first message of a group of WhatsApp created to give tips and warnings about bus line 693 in Rio de Janeiro, which connects two distant neighborhoods.
People who take the bus daily, regulars, make up the growing community. "Today you help people, and tomorrow you are helped," says Marcelo Cardoso, 45, one of 12 group administrators.
The group serves as a way for users to overcome the "daily suffering" they spend on public transportation. Compared with cities around the world, Rio de Janeiro is one of the worst cities for commuting, which averages 86 minutes.
A clothing store employee, Cardoso says that the first group was created three years ago as a joke, but also as a collaborative tool. The second came in 2018. Both have 256 registered numbers and 12 administrators.
Constant messages add a special touch. Around 5:30 a.m., it becomes active and remains that until 11:30 p.m. - basically the operating hours of the line.
It's play-by-play action for every bus that has passenger, which includes narration of the points the bus driver passes through, whether the air conditioning is working, whether there is congestion and even the speed with which the driver drives the vehicle: "Turtle driver. At this time it is tense, "said one user.
The groups gained exposure after a Twitter post went viral on Wednesday (29). "My 'roommate' just introduced me to the WhatsApp bus concept," said Felipe Fagundes.
The digital interaction has sparked friendships and even romance. Marcelo says they try to fraternize in a bar once a month.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon