Cycle paths demonstrate their need and functionality day after day and all around the world, as Buenos Aires bike ways demonstrate it. Since their installation over 10 years, they have meant a radical change to improve mobility in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The first one of Buenos Aires is since 2009, inaugurated in La Boca. From there, cycling network has extended to a total of 191 mi, these connect with the 15 municipalities of city.
It’s clear their importance, use and benefit, considering the 2023 data with more than 300 thousand daily rides by bike. In addition, since 2009 to 2024, as publishes the site of the government of Buenos Aires, at present, the cycling tours passed from 0,4% to 7%. This year already has 400 thousand per day.
With all this, isn’t weird that, in 2018, the National Geographic positioned to Buenos Aires in the ranking of the 10 best cycling cities.
Buenos Aires bike ways might disappear?
It’s paradoxical that, even though the benefits a cycle path has for a city, some authorities and society want to remove them. After all, people believe that the key for a better circulation is in more cars in streets, instead of sustainable transports.
Something even more ironic, is that those that boosted the construction of bike ways want to remove them. That is the case of Alberto Macri, head of government of Buenos Aires and the Bloque Libertario.
Last March, Macri emphasized the importance to implement sustainable alternatives with less pollution and greater energy efficiency, to fight daily traffic congestion. However, he also emphasized the importance of “check the reasonableness” of some bike paths, meaning, the probability of remove them.
A great irony
One of the bike ways that may be in this revision is the one of Avenida Libertadores, with 6.8 miles of length, inaugurated in 2022 under the management of Horacio Rodriguez Larreta, in that event assisted Macri.
According to this, Leo Spinetto, from Bicivilizadxs group, comments that isn’t a sure thing the removal, increase or improvement of these lanes.
In this regard, the cycle path of Libertadores, a sector that asks the removal of this for non-sense aspects. As they comment, opponents want their removal, due transits by a zone with hospitals and schools.
“It’s an avenue that in certain zones has almost 12 lanes, and cars go to a maximum speed of 70 kmph. Their concern is a cycle path can damage to a college boy or girl, instead of a car that drives to 43 mph”, indicates Spinetto.
The bike defender indicates that, to cancel the expansion of cycling network or removal of certain cycle routes may risk the private investment. This is due many capital came from it and you may ask, why to lend money?
Bikeways 2.0
In order to calm these moods, the corresponding authorities indicated to Perfil portal, that the aim isn’t disappear connections, or cyclists, but analyze them and improve them.
“The idea is to improve the network, due many of them need maintenance. Some of them aren’t well paved or asphalted. Many of them also don’t have lane markings. Situations, that of course, generate accidents and discomfort to cyclists. The purpose isn’t to remove bike ways, but maybe, reconfigure some of them or any section. Also know which is the bike way with most accidents and try to solve this topic, which affects more to transit or generate inconveniences with neighbors of the zone” added the source of the Buenos Aires Ministry.
On the other hand, the Valparaiso City has clear to increase its network. The municipality was reunited with other groups, Andes Chile ONG and the group “Furiosos Ciclistas Porteños” to make know the project advances “Valparaiso Ciclo-Amigable”.
This initiative started the month of September and the municipality is 100% responsible of the expenses. The project considers that this will incorporate cycle- inclusive signs and cycling equipment as parking lots in streets of hills, sites of the plan and coast border.
In addition, is expected to prove the functionality that bike ways will have in the urban zone of Valparaiso, Laguna Verde and Placilla. In total, it can be achieved between 43.4 and 49.7 miles of bike ways.
“The municipality is present and the aim is to go from less to more, advance to the future in a master plan of bike ways”, mentioned Diego García from Furiosos Ciclistas Porteños.
