Big buses are used to get to towns farther away, usually for distances that take at least an hour or more to drive to.
I have used some of these methods of transportation before coming to Mexico, such as cars, walking and bigger buses. But, the method that was completely new for me was the combi. It is definitely the biggest difference in transportation between Mexico and the United States. Combis are small white buses that usually seat about 12-18 people. They display the names of the location where they will travel to on the front window. When you see the combi that is going to the area where you need to go, you just wave your hand and it will pull over to where you are waiting. When the bus gets close to your destination, you hand your money to the driver and tell them exactly where you would like to be dropped off. For example, you could say "At the next corner" or "Outside the gas station." The combi usually costs about seven to ten pesos, which is about 50 cents in the U.S. I was very nervous when I first started riding the combis, but now that I have been in Mexico for about two months, I feel more comfortable riding them.
Culturally and environmentally, it definitely makes sense that the combi is one of the main methods of transport of Tlaxcala. Because the streets are smaller and the movement through the city is quick and consistent, small little buses are effective in fulfilling people’s transportation needs. Plus, riding the combi is definitely a cultural experience.
