Mateo’s face was pressed inches away from a woman holding a vibrantly painted cello case. They shared a look of mutual, exhausted understanding. In the tightest of spaces, they began a whispered conversation about the absurdity of their situation.
One victim, interviewed by El País in November 2021, said: "I used to love the independence of taking the bus. After the encoxada in March, I now take three different Uber rides to work. It’s bankrupting me, but I can't feel someone's belt buckle on my back again." encoxada bus 2021