Is DF becoming a more bike-friendly city?

Four years ago, when I first moved here, the simple answer to this question would have been a loud and resounding NO! In fact I would have classified Mexico City as the least bike-friendly place I had ever lived in or visited; and statistics revealing that only 1% of journeys are taken by bike would have supported this perspective. That 1% is perhaps best represented by this image of a lone cyclist braving the empty roads during the height of the Swine Flu crisis....

But things are definitely beginning to change, all thanks to Mayor Marcelo Ebrard's 15 year Green Plan for the city, which is aiming to increase daily trips by bike to 5% by 2012. There are already many visible signs of this sea-change on the horizon.....

The partial road closure of Reforma on Sunday mornings for cyclists has proved increasingly popular lending a festive holiday atmosphere to the route. Twelve free bike rental stations have sprung up along the route; all you have to do is leave ID......Plus, they are operative all week from Tuesday to Sunday 10am - 6pm.

Hotels are also beginning to follow suit with free bike rentals for guests, and bike racks are proliferating all over the city...

Future plans, however, are going beyond leisure, and are really aiming to convince commuters to cycle - 20 km of protected bike lanes are planned for Reforma, San Cosme and Buenavista, 900 more bike racks will be set up, as well as parking facilities for 400 bikes at Constitucion Metro. An urban cycling school is also on the agenda to teach interested riders about safety on the road. This is vital as at present both drivers and cyclists show a flagrant disregard for pedestrians, and I have almost been mown down twice recently by two-wheelers hurtling towards me the wrong way down a one way street. Unfortunately much of the appeal of cycles and motorbikes on busy roads is to break all traffic rules to avoid jams... But hey, in the meantime, we have our own brand new bicitaxis whizzing gleefully around the zocalo in their own bike lane...

And who knows...maybe we will start to catch up with Copenhagen, currently the leading Western city for cycling with 36% journeys taken by bike. Maybe Mexico City will even begin to look like this recent art installation by Betsabee Romeo which shows the bicycle taking over the car...quite literally

Anyway, I am actually seriously considering getting a bike! Four years ago? Totally unthinkable!!