Mexico City bike-share (Ecobici) expands, more for 2012

When you think of cycling, Mexico City probably does not come to mind. However, they are trying to change that and began by launching a bike-share system in February 2010. Now they are getting ready for a large expansion in 2012, and they're ending this year with a small one. As part of the introduction and expansion of a bike-share system, the city's first bike lanes were installed last year. Also, a "Sunday streets" type event was introduced, where large avenues are closed to cars on Sundays and opened to bikes and pedestrians only.

The bike share system is operated by Clear Channel, so it unfortunately is a closed system (no one day memberships, only monthly and annuals). However, that hasn't stopped it from being successful. The membership base was capped at 30,000 as to not overwhelm the bikes, and there is currently a 6 week waiting period.

Fortunately, the system is expanding.

Launch:
85 stations
1,114 bikes
30,000 members

October 2011 expansion:
90 stations total. 5 new stations, 7 stations moved.

March-May 2012
270 stations total
4,000 bikes
65,000 projected members


Here is a map showing where the system currently extends. The area in black square is the October 2011 expansion. 5 stations were added, and 7 were moved to serve a new neighborhood.



The 2012 expansion should help make cycling in Mexico City more normal and safer. I will report on it when the final map is released.

Source: Ecobici se triplicará en 2012