Tag Archives: transportation

Improving Mexico City public transport


Traffic in Periférico

Originally uploaded by Chiva Congelado

Mexico City has a great subway network, with 175 stations connected over 11 lines. Even if it has 3.8 million of users every day, it has been completely surpassed by the growth of the city, as you can see in this picture from Periférico, the main ring road.

The problem is compounded by two factors: sprawl and quality. The subway only covers the Federal District (and not completely), while the metropolitan area includes also municipalities in the states of Mexico and Hidalgo. Furthermore, most people who can afford a car try to avoid public transport, as it is perceived to be unreliable, dirty and unsafe (as anybody who has used a microbús can attest).

I would like the European model of reliable public transportation for the masses to be available in Mexico, rather than the American automobile-intensive way, but it needs more political will than there currently is.

Dependent on cars


Dependent on cars
Originally uploaded by Chiva Congelado

I don’t have a car. I used to, but sold it when I moved to Brussels and when I came back I didn’t really see the need for it, since in the Helsinki metro area we tend to have pretty decent public transportation.
it was not a surprise, but definitely a noticeable difference to see that the city of Seattle (as many other cities in the United States) is built around the car, to the extent that you get commuting times in the local news right after the weather report.
No surprise the price of oil has everybody up in arms.