Number of cyclists tripled due to Coronavirus
Melisa Murialdo
CPA and Analyst Latin America Region
The pandemic has provoked new habits in people and the way of transportation is one of them. The use of bicycles throughout Mexico has reached very important figures since the beginning of the pandemic by the coronavirus, while people avoid contact and agglomeration in public transport, bicycles became a healthy, economical and safe alternative.
Traveling by public transportation causes people to get together and inevitably maintain close contact, which has become a daily question for Mexicans. How to avoid that contact in public transportation is repeated day after day? That's where the bicycle comes in, which gives a safe, economical and healthy result. Many people chose to change their means of transportation to a 2-wheeled vehicle, to go to work, to go for a walk and to be active in some way: the number of cyclists tripled due to the coronavirus , going from 1,996 in April (beginning of the strong restrictions due to the pandemic) to 6,415 cyclists at the end of October 2020.
The World Health Organization (WHO) affirms the benefits of cycling, and also assures that cycling provides a healthier life , indicating that up to 5 million deaths a year could be avoided if the world's population were more active.
The Mexican government, realizing that every day people opt for this means of transportation, has implemented new urban planning projects, such as the creation of more than 64 kilometers of bicycle lanes in the Mexican territory, more road signs and everything necessary for circulation.
For this reason, it is very common to find in the main cities of Mexico alternative lanes that make it possible to circulate safely and quickly.
As well as avoiding contagions and agglomerations, it also helps the environment, since it reduces the pollution aggravated by the polluting gases emitted by the cars that circulate daily in the country.
According to data provided by the Economic Information Bank of the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi), in October 2020, 111,700 bicycles were manufactured in Mexico.This production goes hand in hand with all the planning that the Mexican government has been carrying out regarding the increase in the number of users who choose to ride bicycles.
Bicycle travel increased 221% since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, while travel by public transport and automobile declined by as much as 50%.
Yucatán is the entity with the highest number of bicycles in homes, 40% of the 40% of households have this means of transportation.. In contrast with Guerrero and Chihuahua, where this percentage is around 10%. The national average is 21.21%, similar to Mexico City, where 20% of households have this non-motorized vehicle.
In the Mexican capital, ECOBICI is a fundamental public service for sustainable mobility, this project has become a reference in the world and is the largest in Latin America. More than 70 million trips have been made so far, and the number is growing all the time. This project has 321,000 users, 480 stations and 6,500 bicycles with a total coverage of 38 km2. 30 thousand trips are made per day. The government's goal for 2024 is to have 16 bike racks, as well as to provide the system with 10,000 bicycles.
Unfortunately, the increase in the use of such a healthy and economical means of transportation has its counterpart in road fatalities. Just as the number of users who choose to use bicycles as a means of transportation is increasing, so are fatal accidents.In the first 9 months of the year 2020, 16 speed-related deaths of cyclists were recorded.
In terms of fatalities by type of road user, from January through December the Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC) recorded an increase in the proportion of cyclist fatalities by 82% compared to 2019.The number of pedestrians registered a decrease.
Particularly in Mexico City, the clear reduction in mobility as a result of the pandemic resulted in a decrease of more than 30% of traffic accidents, but the percentage of these with injuries and fatalities increased.
There were also changes in the number of fatalities, as data indicate that the number of pedestrians killed in traffic accidents decreased from 51% to 30% as well as the number of drivers from 19% to 9.6% in the period from 2020 to 2021.
While in 2020 mobility was reduced due to isolation issues and this situation caused traffic fatalities to decrease; cyclists are not part of that privileged group, as bicycle user fatalities increased. This fact is not only related to the increase in the use of bicycles as a means of transportation, but is also due to the high speeds at which people ride and the lack of infrastructure on Mexican streets.The following factors have a major impact on fatal accidents for cyclists.
Editor: Cra. Melisa Murialdo
Sources: World Health Organization (WHO); Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI); Ni Una Muerte Vial; Agencia Digital de Innovación Pública (ADI); Agencia Quadratín; Ecobici; Mejor Trato; Secretaría de Movilidad (SEMOVI); Observatorio de Movilidad Sostenible de Mérida (OMSM).
As well as avoiding contagions and agglomerations, it also helps the environment, since it reduces pollution aggravated by the polluting gases emitted by the cars that circulate daily in the country.
Pedaling not only helps the planet with pollution, but also our body, which receives several benefits:
- It reduces the risk of heart attack by 50% each time the heart rate increases and blood pressure decreases, making the heart do its job more efficiently.
- Cycling reduces bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol thanks to the flexibility of the blood vessels.
- Increases the strength of our immune system
- It improves posture, reduces body aches and pains and strengthens muscles through the tension of exercise.
The mind gets a break and avoids negative thoughts, you project more easily and worries decrease avoiding falling into depression, in conclusion, pedaling makes you more positive.
The following recommendations should be taken into account by all cyclists who circulate daily in the Mexican territory, the regulations are an obligation to respect, as it avoids accidents that can be fatal.
Cycling not only helps the planet with pollution, but also our body, which receives several benefits:
- Ride on the right side, be aware of other bicycles coming at higher speeds and needing space.
- Be attentive and respect stop and yield signs.
- The sidewalks and crosswalks are exclusively theirs, if for any reason you must cross them, it is better to do it on foot.
- Wear a helmet, knee pads, water and all necessary safety equipment.
- When riding at night, it is necessary to carry lights on the back of the bicycle so that motorists can see that a bicycle is riding and can be alert to any maneuver.
- Having your bicycle in good condition is essential to avoid problems on the road, so it is advisable to check all the important parts of the bike and make sure everything is in good condition.
