Quito Transit Riders Are Shifting Toward Apps, Taxis and Motorcycles

Quito's mobility picture is changing. Public transport is still the main way most people move, but more residents are choosing motorcycles, taxis and app-based rides.

According to Quito Como Vamos 2025, around 64% of Quito residents still use public transport, including the municipal system, conventional buses and the metro. But surface systems are losing riders.

The Numbers

A Unitrans representative said each conventional bus carried about 850 passengers per day before Covid-19. After confinement, that average dropped to 200, and it has recovered to about 650 passengers per day.

Municipal systems also show pressure. In 2024, the trolleybus moved an average of 166,645 passengers per day, while the Ecovia recorded 151,019 daily users. Those figures represented drops of 2% and 9.5%, respectively, compared with 2023.

The metro was the exception, reaching an average of 148,700 daily trips in 2024.

By 2025, the trolleybus averaged 106,115 daily trips and the Ecovia 100,767, showing the decline continued.

Why People Are Moving Away

The article points to insecurity, service quality and the growth of private vehicles. Between 2023 and 2024, about 3,000 additional motorcycles were registered in the city. App-based passenger transport also rose as a main mobility option from 1% of surveyed users in 2024 to 3% in 2025.

One mobility advocate said the city's registered vehicle count grew by more than 27% between 2019 and 2025.

What This Means for Expats

If you live in Quito, this is the tension you probably already feel: public transport is cheaper, but many riders are paying more for perceived safety, comfort or predictability.

For daily life, the metro may be the most important piece to understand because it is the municipal system still showing growth. But if you rely on buses, expect the broader debate to keep focusing on safety, dedicated lanes, route sustainability and whether riders come back.