Access issues for small buses and combis in the Mexcio City Metropolitan area.

Abstract

Nearly three-quarters of Mexico's one hundred million people live in urban areas and nearly one out of five Mexicans live in the greater Mexico City metropolitan area. Arguably the world's largest city, Mexico City's metropolitan area is composed of an inner core (the Federal District) of some 9 million and a surrounding area of another 9 million in the State of Mexico. Other major cities, such as Puebla (population 1.3 million) , Toluca, and Cuernavaca, lie within 100 kilometers of Mexico City.

This case study will examine issues of accessibility to public transport by small buses (called \"micros\" or \"peseros\" in Mexico City) and vans (called \"combis\"), including field studies of micros in Mexico City's Federal District and combis in Puebla. The infrastructure and transport services of both cities have historically been inaccessible to most persons with disabilities. However, current trends and practices reflect rapid changes in the regulatory environment and in the design of pedestrian infrastructure as well as transport vehicles. These changes, and the potential for further change to meet the challenge of mobility for all, will be the focus of this study.

Citation

Access issues for small buses and combis in the Mexcio City Metropolitan area.

Published 1 January 2002