Mexico City isn’t exactly known as a cyclist’s haven. That’s because the Mexican capital, once known as the smoggiest city on the planet, has four million vehicles, a lack of established bike lanes and a one percent rate of daily transport by bike. However, with the recent implementation of 1,114 aluminum bikes comprising 85 stations in four of the city’s districts, the capital’s bicycle-use reputation could change immensely, starting now.
The bike-sharing system is part of a renovation process that the city is currently undergoing, spurred by city leaders’ eagerness to change many of the problems that the metropolis has faced in the past, including the issue of transportation.
Martha Delgado, the secretary of the environment for the municipal government (and an architect of the program) argues that Mexico City is an inherently bike-accessible metro area because the center of the city is flat, and the weather is “good year-round.” On the other hand, some experts say that cultural obstacles may stand in the way of the bicycle’s success as a means of regular transportation. Even Delgado admits that a common attitude among residents is that bikers shouldn’t ride anywhere near roadways. “Drivers think that cyclists shouldn’t be on the road. They think that bikes should go on the sidewalk. This is a widespread perception that has to change,” Delgado says.
Advocates of the bike-sharing program, such as Delgado, acknowledge that there are challenges ahead in terms of making Mexico City truly bike-friendly, but they also think that adding more cyclists to the road will help shift many motorists’ perceptions. “If there’s one cyclist on the street, the motorist may not even see you. But if there are five or 10, then the motorist won’t miss you,” says Paul DeMaio, the head of MetroBike, a bike-sharing consultancy in Washington.
