Thankfully, I always ride this micro until the last stop on the route, so I didn't have to worry about fighting my way to the doors to get off in time.
The entire ride took almost an hour, and I was standing squished against the back of a plastic seat for most of it. Every time the bus started or stopped, we all lurched to the side and tried not to tip over because we were too packed together to hold onto the handles that are meant to keep passengers from falling. I spent the whole trip clutching my backpack to my chest because some people in the micros and the metro here will try to steal your things if you don't pay attention! By the time the ride was over, I had already decided never to use the micro during the morning rush hour again!
Despite the many micros and the extensive metro system in Santiago, some people here do have their own cars. Drivers are required to have a permit called Permiso de Circulación to be allowed to use their vehicles in the streets (different from a driver's license, which they also need). During the winter, when the air pollution in Santiago is especially bad, there are actually limits to when people are allowed to drive their cars. This encourages many Chileans to make use of the public transportation, which is an essential part of the city culture and a unique social experience!
