by CHRISTIAN SCOTT
stayed 11 days in Mexico City in mid-December 2007. At every place he went, had to travel by underground, bus (tank), combi, Metrobus, walking and a couple of times by taxi. Toured areas most were the historic center, Condesa, Coyoacan, Zona Rosa, Rome, Chapultepec, Narvaez, San Antonio, but I also venture to other areas temporarily Barranca del Muerto, Revolution, the airport area Northern Division Peripheral, etc. I want to share my experiences, it is clear that all opinions be affected by bias, informed judgments, comparisons with other cities, global experience and true facts.
METRO: The metro Federal District is the 3rd most used worldwide (after Moscow and Tokyo). He certainly has all the elements to this: moving in more than 10 lines with more than one hundred stations to millions of users daily (one of the densest cities in the world). And would like the 2 lines of Guadalajara Light Rail compete against this monster underground capital. It is important to note that "size does matter", Montreal (Canada), despite having 3 subway lines and a couple of seasons to Guadalajara, works much better, for both the metro, suburban bus and trucks work together (sharing rate, ie a single ticket is for transfers between the various transport; synchronizing schedules, standardizing quality of service, etc.. ..). I, with my limited knowledge, I can not say that it occurs in any population of the Mexican republic. Advantages
capital metro: very cheap, only $ 2 pesos [20c on the dollar] (of course, is subsidized by taxes from other states) is fast and covers a considerable percentage of the urban area. Disadvantages (or blind spots), no walk, of the fifty stations has toured chairs, trash cans and public payphones, I consider this a dehumanization of service (sit down on the floor, the garbage, or possibly throw it in the way of a meter). But yes!, Always find a Domino's Pizza, a bakery, grocery store and sometimes popular libraries (gossip magazines + classical literature).
To my friends in a wheelchair I can tell you something, only one station (out of fifty traveled) has wheelchair ramps: Medical Center. I wondered, would the handicapped and people with special abilities, just go the hospital? Also did not attend the movies, parks, work, visit family or some other activity outside a hospital? DF meter response: NO! (Teleton and yet both can include different people in everyday life, how to rehabilitate children served if an odyssey transported home at the Telethon, or home to his new job, etc).
I noticed something very interesting, what I call the new era of street vendors. Vendors with a backpack fitted with speakers connected to a Discman, sell "Cien hits of classical music, pop, northern, reggae ... etc ... as an mp3 for just $ 10 pesos." It's folk and funny the first few times, but the third one notes the lack of respect, listening to a loud speaker to your ear 30cm in each of the wagons on board, it is not pleasant, believe me. What about the noise laws? In any platform or car found someone trying to sell me something I do not need, or worse, someone asked me if I need money.
socioeconomic Note: Most people who use the subway in Mexico City, belong to lower classes to upper-middle. In 10 days of using the subway every day, look no more than 10 people who appeared to be of a high class. About this, a friend of the capital, told me that the "rich" are afraid of being assaulted and that, therefore, prefer to purchase a particular car (a safe and secure). Product and producer of this, difficult to solve, "cycle of violence." Of course that is one of many reasons that are not "rich" in the metro.
did not get to witness any harassment or groping a woman did, however, I found dozens of posters denouncing the harassment, promoting respect for women as well as gender equity, posters with help lines, information about pregnancy unwanted (next one was another poster opposing abortion arguments about "freedom and life" matter of some philosophical and difficult to reach an agreement, etc.). Congratulations! I am glad that women gradually regained their freedom of movement, this one or not.
In conclusion I would say that is one meter "clean" with respect to the number of home users, encompassing dozens of their stations, fast, cheap (thanks to the subsidy) and "good" considering it is a country in development. Sure, I expect to find on my next visit standby seats, wheelchair access, garbage, telephones along the platform, free maps, more information on wagons, informal trade control, including (To start). METRO-BUS
INSURGENTS: How wonderful! It is the capital's adaptation of BRT in Bogota, Curitiba, etc. Is basically a bus that has a dedicated lane to avoid traffic, although it has to stop at traffic lights. Located on Avenida Insurgentes, runs nearly 20km. The price is $ 3.50 pesos [0.35c dollar] although to begin using the service is necessary to have an electronic card and buy it costs about $ 10 pesos [$ 1], which I find appalling, pay to then pay a service, as I remember, the electronic cards of Guadalajara Light Rail or e-cards of some European cities are free, what you pay for is service, not the "service to access the service."
The stations are located on ridges, and has access for wheelchairs, including articulated buses have special spaces to ensure these and are not at risk. The platform has a special entry for "children, women, elderly, wheelchair users, to respect it otherwise. Each articulated bus has a large capacity (what is it? "80 people?). Comfortable seating and plastic handles that will stand, I noticed they had televisions. I have read has been reduced by 33% the time travel. Despite being a good transport (in my opinion) Insurgentes Avenue is lined with cars stuck in traffic, especially at night.
REGULAR BUS: In Mexico City there are fish tanks (minibuses, approximately 20 seats) and buses (regular buses with 30-40 seats). Charge for the mileage to travel between $ 2.50 and $ 4 pesos [0.25C - 0.40c on the dollar], for a tourist who does not know its final destination, it is hard to pinpoint the tip! The daily life of the bus does not differ much from that of Guadalajara: buses jump a lot, give the impression to disarm the middle, are noisy, polluting, occasionally drivers smoke, suffer from traffic congestion, etc. I found more disadvantages in the capital's buses in the Guadalajara, the capital city driving with the doors open and people will grab where you can (in my pueblote Guadalajara and past that stage a couple of years), and the habit of standing where that is, without respecting the few signs I could see. I do not intend to be the devil's advocate, to be honest it would fail: was stuck in traffic so it was slow, had to support the cigarette and the driver's favorite music (from pop to northern, no jazz) and I felt insecure with the doors open, it is more expensive than the subway and not I found no "origin-destination map" inside the bus, or out. Unless a truck Coyoacan (I could not say what route, is my fault or lack of signs?), None left me where I needed to go, I always had to take two buses, or connect to the metro.
COMBIS: For those who have not traveled to Mexico City or any small city the "combis" are small trucks adapted for collective transport. It stops, you open the door, you pay (the price is the same as the bus), and end your trip open the door and close it. Nothing fancy. I was impressed by the number of routes between vans, buses and minibuses. PEDESTRIAN WALK LIKE
: Unlike Guadalajara, has not yet reached the fashion of using the sidewalk (pedestrian) and public parking lots, I hope not catch the fashion. However, the asphalt is destroyed (I found whole streets in Cologne Tourist and supposedly "nice" that they had the broken pavement and buildings, eg, North versus Chapultepec Metro Sevilla). Except Reforma Avenue and the avenues of economic centers, and avenues adjacent to shopping, I found access difficult for wheelchair users, on the contrary, I was with sidewalks over fifteen inches high.
The streets near the metro stations are infested food merchants, piracy, clothing, etc., greatly hinder their jobs to people. To have a bench about 2 feet wide, is reduced to less than 1 meter. Each subway station turned into a flea market, sometimes difficult to cross, uncomfortable and noisy.
Some things that caught my attention and I was happy with his art Reforma Avenue along the avenue: skulls (the style of the exposure of cows), benches and beauty in its landscaped gardens and monuments sources. Also, near the Zocalo (despite being a hell to cross at certain times) in the Currency street there are some sculptures that everyone can see. In the Zocalo, were reflected on the floor some games for children, people walking, the neo-Aztec dancing, and everything seemed very harmonious, some streets closed to automobile traffic!
In general, if you have two legs and can be somewhat complicated to use around the city, and if you do not have functional ... Buy a car and never go out alone because you need help!
TAXIS: Cheap! Taxis compared with Guadalajara (or another country), but especially those of Guadalajara, the capital city are very cheap, and most use their meters and less that you are stuck in traffic, do not cost much.
There is a "halo of uncertainty" around the capital's taxis, the (bias) I heard of these people was that the best option was the RadioTaxi (a little more expensive but 100% sure) or if had to choose between taxis and taxis green-red, he chose the red, they were more friendly and accessible. No idea why they say that.
STREETS AND TRAFFIC: Wow! I found at least ten avenues that had at least 6,7,8 rails! I'm talking about large avenues, large, important, and worse, the unthinkable, I got to see some traffic problems! I confirmed with my own experience what is said about the capital's traffic. Frightening. As some friends this morning: "Without the subway, Mexico City would collapse."
alternative experience: BIKE IN REFORM
Like "via RecreActiva" Reforma Avenue is closed on Sunday morning (until 2pm). Claim their street bikes. The government of Mexico City gave me a bicycle for an hour to change my voter registration card. Everything was beautiful, see the city from a different perspective and certainly a different angle (no cars are easier to observe and admire the architecture and landscape). As in Guadalajara, all people traveling by car or bus parallel watching you with eyes of envy, desire and hope. Still, not many people in cycling compared to Guadalajara, I counted perhaps a 100-150 for the entire journey, at least between 12.00 and 2.00pm, some people told me that the operation was recent and still had confidence in as "insurance" would be for cyclists. I passed it with hair. I watched people buying books, drinking coffee and walking their dogs on Reforma Avenue.
addition to this operation, there is now a Cyclops in the City, I have understood that continues to expand its construction but for the time is partially functional in the areas of Chapultepec. Okay, at least a large Mexican city and pay attention to this tremendous alternative for urban mobility ... Bogota politicians have when they migrate to Guadalajara ... (I'm kidding, I believe that change can come from the public, in fact I think that will arise from the citizenry).
I conclude by saying that Mexico City is a bipolar city beautiful, on the one hand has its history, its culture, its unique touch that distinguishes it from all over the country, and on the other hand, has its problems of injustice, insecurity and mobility crisis. Since this article specializes in issues of mobility, may sound a bit pessimistic, more is not my intent. Everything written is merely a reflection, I am the mirror of reality.
Mexico City has already implemented (and implement) some success stories such as Metrobus, as its source Ciclopista, as its new "Sunday bike Reforma Av", etc.
have started a few years ago to try to resolve the problems arising from at least 2 centuries of sprawl. There is still a long way to go and lots of problems to be solved. As in Guadalajara (and most cities of the globe). I hope that in Mexico City, Guadalajara and others, are the principles of sustainability, ecology, aesthetics, public participation and the like which routed the necessary change to overcome the crisis of mobility.
stayed 11 days in Mexico City in mid-December 2007. At every place he went, had to travel by underground, bus (tank), combi, Metrobus, walking and a couple of times by taxi. Toured areas most were the historic center, Condesa, Coyoacan, Zona Rosa, Rome, Chapultepec, Narvaez, San Antonio, but I also venture to other areas temporarily Barranca del Muerto, Revolution, the airport area Northern Division Peripheral, etc. I want to share my experiences, it is clear that all opinions be affected by bias, informed judgments, comparisons with other cities, global experience and true facts.
METRO: The metro Federal District is the 3rd most used worldwide (after Moscow and Tokyo). He certainly has all the elements to this: moving in more than 10 lines with more than one hundred stations to millions of users daily (one of the densest cities in the world). And would like the 2 lines of Guadalajara Light Rail compete against this monster underground capital. It is important to note that "size does matter", Montreal (Canada), despite having 3 subway lines and a couple of seasons to Guadalajara, works much better, for both the metro, suburban bus and trucks work together (sharing rate, ie a single ticket is for transfers between the various transport; synchronizing schedules, standardizing quality of service, etc.. ..). I, with my limited knowledge, I can not say that it occurs in any population of the Mexican republic. Advantages
capital metro: very cheap, only $ 2 pesos [20c on the dollar] (of course, is subsidized by taxes from other states) is fast and covers a considerable percentage of the urban area. Disadvantages (or blind spots), no walk, of the fifty stations has toured chairs, trash cans and public payphones, I consider this a dehumanization of service (sit down on the floor, the garbage, or possibly throw it in the way of a meter). But yes!, Always find a Domino's Pizza, a bakery, grocery store and sometimes popular libraries (gossip magazines + classical literature).
To my friends in a wheelchair I can tell you something, only one station (out of fifty traveled) has wheelchair ramps: Medical Center. I wondered, would the handicapped and people with special abilities, just go the hospital? Also did not attend the movies, parks, work, visit family or some other activity outside a hospital? DF meter response: NO! (Teleton and yet both can include different people in everyday life, how to rehabilitate children served if an odyssey transported home at the Telethon, or home to his new job, etc).
I noticed something very interesting, what I call the new era of street vendors. Vendors with a backpack fitted with speakers connected to a Discman, sell "Cien hits of classical music, pop, northern, reggae ... etc ... as an mp3 for just $ 10 pesos." It's folk and funny the first few times, but the third one notes the lack of respect, listening to a loud speaker to your ear 30cm in each of the wagons on board, it is not pleasant, believe me. What about the noise laws? In any platform or car found someone trying to sell me something I do not need, or worse, someone asked me if I need money.
socioeconomic Note: Most people who use the subway in Mexico City, belong to lower classes to upper-middle. In 10 days of using the subway every day, look no more than 10 people who appeared to be of a high class. About this, a friend of the capital, told me that the "rich" are afraid of being assaulted and that, therefore, prefer to purchase a particular car (a safe and secure). Product and producer of this, difficult to solve, "cycle of violence." Of course that is one of many reasons that are not "rich" in the metro.
did not get to witness any harassment or groping a woman did, however, I found dozens of posters denouncing the harassment, promoting respect for women as well as gender equity, posters with help lines, information about pregnancy unwanted (next one was another poster opposing abortion arguments about "freedom and life" matter of some philosophical and difficult to reach an agreement, etc.). Congratulations! I am glad that women gradually regained their freedom of movement, this one or not.
In conclusion I would say that is one meter "clean" with respect to the number of home users, encompassing dozens of their stations, fast, cheap (thanks to the subsidy) and "good" considering it is a country in development. Sure, I expect to find on my next visit standby seats, wheelchair access, garbage, telephones along the platform, free maps, more information on wagons, informal trade control, including (To start). METRO-BUS
INSURGENTS: How wonderful! It is the capital's adaptation of BRT in Bogota, Curitiba, etc. Is basically a bus that has a dedicated lane to avoid traffic, although it has to stop at traffic lights. Located on Avenida Insurgentes, runs nearly 20km. The price is $ 3.50 pesos [0.35c dollar] although to begin using the service is necessary to have an electronic card and buy it costs about $ 10 pesos [$ 1], which I find appalling, pay to then pay a service, as I remember, the electronic cards of Guadalajara Light Rail or e-cards of some European cities are free, what you pay for is service, not the "service to access the service."
The stations are located on ridges, and has access for wheelchairs, including articulated buses have special spaces to ensure these and are not at risk. The platform has a special entry for "children, women, elderly, wheelchair users, to respect it otherwise. Each articulated bus has a large capacity (what is it? "80 people?). Comfortable seating and plastic handles that will stand, I noticed they had televisions. I have read has been reduced by 33% the time travel. Despite being a good transport (in my opinion) Insurgentes Avenue is lined with cars stuck in traffic, especially at night.
REGULAR BUS: In Mexico City there are fish tanks (minibuses, approximately 20 seats) and buses (regular buses with 30-40 seats). Charge for the mileage to travel between $ 2.50 and $ 4 pesos [0.25C - 0.40c on the dollar], for a tourist who does not know its final destination, it is hard to pinpoint the tip! The daily life of the bus does not differ much from that of Guadalajara: buses jump a lot, give the impression to disarm the middle, are noisy, polluting, occasionally drivers smoke, suffer from traffic congestion, etc. I found more disadvantages in the capital's buses in the Guadalajara, the capital city driving with the doors open and people will grab where you can (in my pueblote Guadalajara and past that stage a couple of years), and the habit of standing where that is, without respecting the few signs I could see. I do not intend to be the devil's advocate, to be honest it would fail: was stuck in traffic so it was slow, had to support the cigarette and the driver's favorite music (from pop to northern, no jazz) and I felt insecure with the doors open, it is more expensive than the subway and not I found no "origin-destination map" inside the bus, or out. Unless a truck Coyoacan (I could not say what route, is my fault or lack of signs?), None left me where I needed to go, I always had to take two buses, or connect to the metro.
COMBIS: For those who have not traveled to Mexico City or any small city the "combis" are small trucks adapted for collective transport. It stops, you open the door, you pay (the price is the same as the bus), and end your trip open the door and close it. Nothing fancy. I was impressed by the number of routes between vans, buses and minibuses. PEDESTRIAN WALK LIKE
: Unlike Guadalajara, has not yet reached the fashion of using the sidewalk (pedestrian) and public parking lots, I hope not catch the fashion. However, the asphalt is destroyed (I found whole streets in Cologne Tourist and supposedly "nice" that they had the broken pavement and buildings, eg, North versus Chapultepec Metro Sevilla). Except Reforma Avenue and the avenues of economic centers, and avenues adjacent to shopping, I found access difficult for wheelchair users, on the contrary, I was with sidewalks over fifteen inches high.
The streets near the metro stations are infested food merchants, piracy, clothing, etc., greatly hinder their jobs to people. To have a bench about 2 feet wide, is reduced to less than 1 meter. Each subway station turned into a flea market, sometimes difficult to cross, uncomfortable and noisy.
Some things that caught my attention and I was happy with his art Reforma Avenue along the avenue: skulls (the style of the exposure of cows), benches and beauty in its landscaped gardens and monuments sources. Also, near the Zocalo (despite being a hell to cross at certain times) in the Currency street there are some sculptures that everyone can see. In the Zocalo, were reflected on the floor some games for children, people walking, the neo-Aztec dancing, and everything seemed very harmonious, some streets closed to automobile traffic!
In general, if you have two legs and can be somewhat complicated to use around the city, and if you do not have functional ... Buy a car and never go out alone because you need help!
TAXIS: Cheap! Taxis compared with Guadalajara (or another country), but especially those of Guadalajara, the capital city are very cheap, and most use their meters and less that you are stuck in traffic, do not cost much.
There is a "halo of uncertainty" around the capital's taxis, the (bias) I heard of these people was that the best option was the RadioTaxi (a little more expensive but 100% sure) or if had to choose between taxis and taxis green-red, he chose the red, they were more friendly and accessible. No idea why they say that.
STREETS AND TRAFFIC: Wow! I found at least ten avenues that had at least 6,7,8 rails! I'm talking about large avenues, large, important, and worse, the unthinkable, I got to see some traffic problems! I confirmed with my own experience what is said about the capital's traffic. Frightening. As some friends this morning: "Without the subway, Mexico City would collapse."
alternative experience: BIKE IN REFORM
Like "via RecreActiva" Reforma Avenue is closed on Sunday morning (until 2pm). Claim their street bikes. The government of Mexico City gave me a bicycle for an hour to change my voter registration card. Everything was beautiful, see the city from a different perspective and certainly a different angle (no cars are easier to observe and admire the architecture and landscape). As in Guadalajara, all people traveling by car or bus parallel watching you with eyes of envy, desire and hope. Still, not many people in cycling compared to Guadalajara, I counted perhaps a 100-150 for the entire journey, at least between 12.00 and 2.00pm, some people told me that the operation was recent and still had confidence in as "insurance" would be for cyclists. I passed it with hair. I watched people buying books, drinking coffee and walking their dogs on Reforma Avenue.
addition to this operation, there is now a Cyclops in the City, I have understood that continues to expand its construction but for the time is partially functional in the areas of Chapultepec. Okay, at least a large Mexican city and pay attention to this tremendous alternative for urban mobility ... Bogota politicians have when they migrate to Guadalajara ... (I'm kidding, I believe that change can come from the public, in fact I think that will arise from the citizenry).
I conclude by saying that Mexico City is a bipolar city beautiful, on the one hand has its history, its culture, its unique touch that distinguishes it from all over the country, and on the other hand, has its problems of injustice, insecurity and mobility crisis. Since this article specializes in issues of mobility, may sound a bit pessimistic, more is not my intent. Everything written is merely a reflection, I am the mirror of reality.
Mexico City has already implemented (and implement) some success stories such as Metrobus, as its source Ciclopista, as its new "Sunday bike Reforma Av", etc.
have started a few years ago to try to resolve the problems arising from at least 2 centuries of sprawl. There is still a long way to go and lots of problems to be solved. As in Guadalajara (and most cities of the globe). I hope that in Mexico City, Guadalajara and others, are the principles of sustainability, ecology, aesthetics, public participation and the like which routed the necessary change to overcome the crisis of mobility.
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