Bike Sharing Program Launched in Mexico City
by Eliza Barclay, Nomad on 07.17.08
Determined to prove its not a just a smog-addled city notorious for traffic and pollution, Mexico City had jumped on the bike-sharing bandwagon and launched its own free program called Mejor En Bici (Spanish link), or Better On Bicycle in English.
We love the jewel-toned wheels of the Mejor en Bici white cruisers, which are available at three sites in the Condesa and Roma neighborhoods, the city's hipster and eco-friendly stomping grounds. To use the bikes, users must register, sign a form, and leave a piece of identification and a deposit of 200 pesos (about $20), which is returned when the bike is dropped off at the same station. The bikes are available from Tuesday to Sunday 10 am to 6 pm.
The privately-funded program is a welcome addition and a nice complement to the city government's recent commitment to build 186 miles of bike paths by 2012.:: Via Revista Travesias, New Ventures Mexico Blog
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I noticed this when I was in the condesa area on my honeymoon last month. I was delighted to see that I could rent a bike to ride. Not so delighted when i found out it required a local ID.
Anyone trying to ride one of those things in a cross wind is in for a very difficult time.
Go Mexico City!
For $20 why wouldn't they just keep the bike.
I hope these work better there than they have in some cities. I seem to have seen a lot of failures lately.
I would have thought the crime rate in Mexico would make this impracticable, but with their distinctive (and impractical) design, there is less likelihood it would be worth anyone's while to steal one of these bikes. Let's hope it works.
The first bike in the photo has the handlebars installed upside down.
They kinda look like Scaper Bikes, from Oakland CA's Trunk Bois. Who knew Mexico City was down with the Hyphy Movement? Next thing you know, their police cars will have 24" spinners on em.
I just found this blog reviews of Mexico
I think its great that Mexico is doing this. Mexico is a huge, international city. Anyone who is concerned about the enviornment will be happy about any effort a country is making to help polution. We should be more supportive of changes like these instead of making negative comments that have nothing to do with the topic at hand.