A bicycle parking area integrated with the public transport system will be built to promote intermodal travel.
Puebla, Mexico, October 28. On 28 October, the Municipality of Puebla, through the Secretariat of Mobility, signed a Donation Agreement with the French Development Agency (AFD), formalising the availability of resources for 500,000 euros to improve intermodality and promote the use of sustainable transit modes.
This project is derived from the participation of the Secretariat of Mobility of the Municipality of Puebla in the call for projects of the European Commission’s EUROCLIMA+ programme, under the project called "Sustainable Intermodality". The amount granted by the European Union will allow the design and construction of a massive bicycle parking area integrated with the Margaritas terminal of line 2 of the BRT-type public transport system (called RUTA), as well as cycling infrastructure in the area.
As Claudia Rivera Vivanco, municipal president of the Puebla City Council, pointed out, "the project is going to be a significant improvement for the population in the south of the city. It will allow people to travel intermodally, combining bicycles with the public transport system. Thus, users will be able to access the Margaritas terminal by bicycle and leave their bicycle there in complete safety while they continue their journey in RUTA.
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In this way, the Municipality clearly wants to promote the use of bicycles as an effective mode of urban transport in the city, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and expanding the number of trips made in public transport. The secretary of Mobility of Puebla, Alejandra Rubio Acle, then reiterated "the Municipality’s willingness to offer viable alternatives to cars," considering that in Puebla the number of vehicles grew five times faster than the number of inhabitants over the past 20 years.
Puebla shows a potential for significant growth of cycling trips, "70 thousand people use bikes daily," said the mayor. It is the third city in the country with more trips by bicycle and it is estimated that during peak hours 70 bicycles transit the BRT corridor per hour.
"The interconnection of BRTs in the field of urban mobility is a recurrent problem in Latin America and the world," recalled AFD Deputy Director in Mexico, Arnaud Dauphin. Bike parking areas are an interesting solution, as the lack of safe places to park bicycles has been identified as one of the main barriers to the use of this mode of transport. Similarly, Mr. Jean-Pierre Bou, Chargé d'Affaires of the European Union Delegation, highlighted the "high potential for replicability at local, national and regional levels" of the initiative promoted by Puebla.
It is considered that the work corresponding to studies and projects will begin in March 2020 and that the project will be completed by the end of that same year.
With this project, the European Union and AFD support the Municipality in implementing its Municipal Development Plan that is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) approved by the United Nations General Assembly.
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About the French Development Agency
AFD is a public solidarity bank, committed to projects that concretely improve the quality of life of populations in developing countries, emerging countries and overseas territories and overseas collectivities. AFD intervenes in several sectors - energy, health, biodiversity, water, digital innovation, training - and it accompanies the transition to a safer, fairer and more sustainable world: a common world. Its action is fully in line with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Present in 115 countries through a network of 85 agencies, AFD currently finances, monitors and supports more than four thousand development projects. In 2018, ADF invested 11.4 billion euros in financing projects in developing countries, as well as in territories and overseas collectivities.
About the European Union
The European Union is made up of 28 countries that have progressively pooled their practical knowledge, resources and destinations. Over a period of 60 years, they have constituted an area of stability, democracy and sustainable development, in addition to preserving cultural diversity, tolerance and individual freedoms. They are always committed to sharing their achievements and values with countries and peoples beyond their borders.
About EUROCLIMA+
EUROCLIMA+ is a programme funded by the European Union to promote environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient development in 18 Latin American countries, particularly for the benefit of the most vulnerable populations. The Programme is implemented under the synergistic work of seven agencies: Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), French Development Agency (AFD), Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), Expertise France (EF), International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP), and UN Environment.
For more information about the EUROCLIMA+ Urban Mobility component, contact Ana Alcántara at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.