Mexico City Builds First Bike Parking Facilities

Posted: 24 Apr 2009

Related to: Mexico City Bicycle Planning, Planning & Advocacy for Cycling & Walking, Mexico
Contributed by: ITDP Mexico

In an effort to get people to use their bikes instead of their cars, the government of Mexico City is building bike parking as part of the city’s Bicycle Mobility Strategy.  ITDP Mexico provided advice to the city government for the design and location of bicycle parking facilities along streets and at mass transit stations.


Photo: Hector Puebla, ITDP Mexico

The bike parking is a standard U-shaped design cemented into the ground.  This new street furniture has been approved by the Urban Furniture Commission, which means that will be the official design of bike-parking facilities for the whole city.


Photo: Hector Puebla, ITDP Mexico

Initially, these facilities have been placed on the pedestrian streets in the historic city center, but the program will be expanded in the coming weeks to important avenues such as Avenida de los Insurgentes, Eje 4 Sur, and Eje Central, as well as to parks such as Chapultepec, the Central Park of Mexico City.


Photo: Hector Puebla, ITDP Mexico

Bike parking is also being integrated with mass transit stations, beginning with the station Metro Auditorio.  This station at the National Auditorium, one of the most important concert halls in Mexico City, is a signal from the government about the status that it is conferring on cycling.  This facility has the capacity for 48 bicycles. Ramps on stairs are placed to help cyclists carry their bikes up or down the stairs to reach the parking facilities in the station. 


Metro Auditorio’s bike ramp into the station and the bike parking within the station.  Photo by: ITDP Mexico

The city is giving a message of respect and recognition to the cyclists with these types of facilities. Cyclists know that they have a place in the city and their vehicles are important too, especially when the location of the parking is in the right place.

This project is a fundamental part of the Bicycle Mobility Strategy.  Close to 1,000 bike racks will be installed in the city this year.  Locating the initial bike parking spots in the city center is also part of the city’s efforts to make this area more pedestrian friendly and slow traffic down.  Integrating bike parking into existing transit hubs and stations and other important destinations is the next step.  The facilities at the metro station Auditorio are also part of the city’s strategy to continue improving Avenida de la Reforma as the most beautiful avenue in the city. 

Bike parking facilities will also be located in public and governmental buildings, as well as in the Delegaciones, or municipalities within the city, as well as the most important commercial and working zones of the city.

Bicycle School

Also as part of the Bicycle Mobility Strategy, Mexico City is planning to develop a bicycle school to teach its citizens the necessary skills to safely ride a bicycle in the city.

This program will move around the city and give courses in different communities.  At the beginning, the bicycle school will target business districts, as well as important centers of the Delegaciones for the community. For this program 2,500 bicycles were purchased to use in the training courses. 


The Cambiate de Carril bike.  Photo by: Jesus Sanchez, ITDP Mexico

ITDP Mexico advised the officials responsible for purchasing the bicycles about the appropriate physical characteristics that the bikes should have. A city bike was developed with special characteristics (low frame for men and woman, city bike wheels, basket, fenders, rack, bell, hand brakes and reflectors) to ride safely and comfortably in the city.


Photo: Jesus Sanchez, ITDP Mexico