In 2016, Transmilenio had an 86% disapproval rating from users.
[18] User strikes erupted over bad service quality, with users blocking bus lanes and at times halting the entire system.
[19] These protests sometimes devolved into riots involving heavy police presence and the use of crowd control measures such as tear gas and water cannons.
[20]
The system was described by users, independent bodies and the media as suffering from overcrowding with an average of eight passengers per square meter,
[21][22] insecurity
[23][24] and providing bad customer service. During rush hours, "stations are so packed that people can't get off the bus". In some stations the overcrowding was so severe that users had to wait in a long line to top up the Smart card and in another line to enter the station.
[25] According to official data in 2017, there were 3404 thefts in TransMilenio stations and 1442 more on buses.
[26]