Streets for People
I absolutely LOVE Ciclovía. Different cities call them by different names, but they all involve shutting down the streets to cars and inviting bikers, walkers, joggers, skaters, scooter(er?)s, friends, families, and pups to enjoy the city from a seldom seen perspective. Here in Mexico City, this means handing over some of the most prominent streets and boulevards to people powered machines. 8AM-2PM every Sunday this city comes alive. The photos are from Paseo de La Reforma, the main boulevard in the city connecting Centro Historico and the business district.
José: “It helps encourage sports among the people.
“Normally there’s traffic everywhere so no one going by Bici (bike share), running, walking there dogs”
José & Luís
I saw these two sitting on the steps leading to the the Angél de la Independencia, the most recognizable figure in the city.
José has lived in Mexico City for nine years, but is from Spain (easily deduced by his still thick Spanish accent). Luís is a city native.
They assure me I’ve come to ciclovía on the right day, as the last Sunday of the month is the most attended with 52km streets closed to cars (according to José).
I ask how often they use their bikes.:
José: “(In Spanish) Minimum, at least once a week. I like riding for sport, exercise. It’s a good way to hang out with friends.”
Luís agrees: “(In Spanish) Yea I just use it for fun”.
José continues: “It’s good to see the city (ciclovía) without traffic, only for bikers. Its safer.
Luís: “Its good people watching”