Even though, capital authorities of Mexico City have as a purpose to build 248 miles of cycling infrastructure before the end of the current stewardship, many cyclists demand the conclusion of Division del Norte bike route, ensuring is one of the greatest projects without concluding.
Coyoacán, Benito Juárez neighbors and cycle activists demanded that this bike path is used by many people, demonstrating its usefulness. It also has tracks without a correct channelization or signage, due that, users don’t receive the necessary safety.
División del Norte bike path, feasible but without recognition
According to Bernardo Baranda, regional director of the Mexico’s ITDP, this bike lane represents a great benefit of connection of southwest with the north and part of the center of CDMX. That is the reason to maintain it and adapt new necessary devices and signals to make it safer.
“División del Norte, as a diagonal Street work to connect neighborhoods as Narvarte and Del Valle with Coyoacán downtown. It’s a direct route between city’s south and north, that’s why a great number of cyclists already use it. However, a fail at the moment is the dialogue among neighbors to have a consensus”, mentioned Baranda.
Also emphasized that “Even though has infrastructure, doesn’t comply with the desired quality and security standards. its lack of formalization affects mainly to users that keep suffering dangerous crossings or car invasions”, Baranda affirmed to Reforma media company, and confirmed that the studies to determine the feasibility of a cyclist lane have been performed, just remain pending before it’s official execution.
Low protection
About the protection of this bike path, mentioned that has road delineation but it isn’t protected. Likewise, also commented that is necessary to talk with neighbors and traders. And said that traders think that bike path affects the transit and commerce. However, Baranda indicated that occurs the opposite effect.
The bike activist and Coyoacán resident, Ximena Rosas detailed to the same media company that bike path needs greater harmonization and devices for security of users.
Likewise, stands out that authorities have dialogued with traders, but not with rest of people that benefit from the lane.
“Exist dangerous crossings as Eje 4, Eje 6 at Churubusco and Viaducto. But there isn’t political will to reach an agreement, even when the project was presented by the capital government, the last we heard is that were reunited with traders but civil society was left out of the dialogue”, she said.
Nowadays, the only track with a physical barrier from vehicle transit is from Churubusco to Municipio Libre with bollard installation.
