Colombia's Constitutional Court orders public‑transport reforms for overweight passengers

The Constitutional Court of Colombia ruled that denying access to public buses for people with larger body sizes constitutes discrimination. The decision, issued on 6 August 2026, stemmed from a tutela filed by 42‑year‑old Natalia Pareja in Armenia, Quindío, after she was blocked by turnstiles and denied entry through the rear door.

The Court ordered immediate measures: transport operators must allow rear‑door boarding for overweight passengers, guarantee normal fare payment, develop dignity‑focused protocols, train staff, and remove any sanctions against drivers who accommodate such passengers. Companies cited include Buses Armenia S.A. and Cooburquiny Transportes Urbanos Ciudad Milagro S.A., which operate under the TINTO consortium. The ruling also clarified that weight‑based discrimination is a distinct category from disability discrimination, urging broader societal visibility and eradication of stigma.

Implementation responsibilities fall to the Secretariat of Transit and Transport of Armenia and the national Ministry of Transport, which must ensure compliance with the Court’s orders.