Mexico City Congress Advances Initiative to Define ‘Cyclist Lane’ in Mobility Law
Mexico City, September 13 – An initiative to incorporate the general concept of “cyclist lane” into Mexico City’s Mobility Law was presented to the capital’s Congress on Tuesday, September 8. Deputy Miguel Ángel Macedo Escartín, from the MORENA party, proposed the reform to guarantee safer conditions for people who use bicycles daily in Mexico City and to provide legal certainty and order to the regulatory framework concerning spaces designated for cyclists.
Deputy Macedo Escartín emphasized the importance of this measure, stating, “The bicycle is an efficient, accessible, and sustainable means of transport. For more people to be able to use it, it is not enough to promote its use. We need to guarantee the conditions for them to do so safely.”
Ensuring Safety and Legal Clarity for Cyclists
Currently, while the concept of a ‘cyclist lane’ is contemplated in the Traffic Regulations, it is not formally defined within the Mobility Law. The popular representative highlighted that including this definition will provide legal certainty and streamline the regulatory framework, allowing for the development of specific characteristics and operational conditions in the Regulations and technical provisions.
“For a long time, our cities were designed prioritizing the automobile. Today, Mexico City needs to move towards a different model: safer, more inclusive, and sustainable mobility that places people at the center,” explained the Deputy, who also chairs the Sustainable Mobility and Road Safety Commission.
The initiative seeks to include the definition of “cyclist lane” in Article 9 of the Mobility Law as a space designated for the exclusive or priority transit of non-motorized vehicles, which can be part of the roadway surface or have an independent route. This definition encompasses various modalities such as bike lanes, cycle tracks, shared cyclist lanes, shared cyclist streets, and public transport lanes shared with non-motorized vehicles.
Beyond Concepts: A Focus on Road Safety
Deputy Macedo Escartín clarified that the initiative is not merely about legal concepts but fundamentally about road safety. He stressed that the legislation is designed for all individuals who rely on bicycles for daily commutes, including students and workers. “We are legislating so that no one has to risk their life to travel through our city,” he underscored.
The MORENA legislator acknowledged the efforts of the Mexico City Government in constructing more infrastructure to encourage bicycle use as an alternative mode of transport. He added that expanding the cycling network is crucial for the capital, as an isolated bike lane alone cannot transform mobility. A continuous, connected, safe, and functional network is essential for people’s movement.
Following his intervention, the Board of Directors announced that the initiative for reforms to the capital’s Mobility Law would be forwarded to the Sustainable Mobility and Road Safety Commission for analysis and, if appropriate, for dictation.
This legislative step is expected to pave the way for a more organized and secure cycling environment in Mexico City, aligning with the growing global trend towards sustainable urban mobility.
