It can be clear that, at least legally, the priority of transit is for pedestrian, but do you know why is it so? Well, the answer is in the mobility pyramid.
In today’s ride we will explain you everything you must know about this scheme. Join us, maybe you don’t know but you’re always part of this mobility system. Discover your level.
What is the mobility pyramid?
The mobility pyramid is a graphic reference that clearly indicates the road preference that all the means of transport that circulate in city, have.
This is conformed by 5 levels, where each of them is located and encompass the different means of transport that circulate in city. The priority order is in reverse pyramid, meaning, from top to bottom. As higher a mean is located, higher the hierarchy on the ones at the bottom. For that, we must consider from walking to sustainable transport, non motorized one, and of course the motorized one.
How hierarchy is measured?
In order to know how to position every mean of transport in the pyramid of mobility, must be considered 3 aspects: right to pass, pollution levels that generate the mean of transport and lastly, the investment politics in public works.
Meaning, which has a greater preference of transit in streets, how much pollutes and the infrastructure that has to circulate. This last one also considers the exposition to road dangers. The scheme was adopted by the Manual de Calles (Street manual) (Diseño Vial para Ciudades Mexicanas) (Road Design for Mexican Cities) published in 2019 by the Ministry of Agrarian, Territorial and Urban development.
Who occupies every level of the mobility pyramid?
As we mentioned before, the means of transport are divided in many groups. Each one of these occupies its own step in the pyramid.
The place where locate depends on the previous points, but the aspects to consider and located from greater to less priority are 1) pedestrian, 2) cyclists, 3) users of passenger public transport service 4) cargo transport and good distribution service providers, 5( users of particular car transport.
In the following paragraph we will explain all the levels:
First level: pedestrians
Pedestrian, means, person that transport walking from one side to other, the most vulnerable user. This is positioned in the top of pyramid, even though is the most exposed to road dangers, such as run overs or assaults.
Requires of the less expensive infrastructures to move. This considers from sidewalks to pedestrian bridges, for example. It is the transportation method that doesn’t generate any pollution. It’s recommended to practice it if the distance to walk is less than 1.8 miles.
Second Level: Bicycles
As walking, is a mean of transport that doesn’t cause damages to environment. It’s use is recommended in distances greater than 1.8 miles and up to 6.2 miles. The same as pedestrian, are the most vulnerable group to suffer run overs and assaults.
We must emphasize that this second level can be also named active mobility or even, sustainable. This is due, doesn’t encompass bike only. Nowadays, are added other transports, such as skates, electric scooters and e-bikes.
These have the right to cross before cars, however, not before pedestrian. In the same way, in different cities has special infrastructure, such as cycle paths, bike parking, bike routes, etc.
Third level: public transport
The third step represents, at the same time, the first step of polluting vehicles. To this, you may be asking, “why does a vehicle that pollutes is part of the pyramid?”. There are two answers: because is a mean of transport and because generates less pollution than others.
The environmental impact that generates the public transport is less significant than others. This is due reduce pollutant emissions by being shared by many people. The previous information also reduces the space of vehicle park and generates less traffic congestion. On the other hand, users are also vulnerable to impacts with other vehicles and assaults.
Fourth level: freight transport
A controversial level, but too important. It’s about a mean of transport that doesn’t transport people, but materials, for that, impact directly in economic activities of the country.
Due to its size and latent danger, their operators must respect road signs for this type of transport. These must circulate in city in specific hours and indicated roads, don’t transport forbidden materials, and don’t exceed cargo capacity, etc.
Fifth level: private vehicles
The private cars are placed in the last step of mobility pyramid. This is due are more polluting and expensive. Now, freight transport also pollutes, the fifth level vehicles have a greater growth and proliferation, for that, requires bigger and more expensive road infrastructure and signage.
Now you know the mobility pyramid, the different steps and which are the most pollutant vehicles. Urban mobility is important from walking to transport in particular cars, as freight transport for an economic growth.
Any transport must be against other, even though is necessary to create a greater road infrastructure to revert** this situation in which, day to day, pedestrians and cyclists suffer constant run overs, and sometimes fateful ones. At the same time, these also must learn to not invade spaces intended for each of them, such as cycle paths and sidewalks.
Apply this hierarchy and travel more safely on streets regardless of your mode of transport.
