100 ideas for urban reform in Mexico
#ReformaUrbana campaign pushes for more inclusive, connected cities
Sprawl has led to distant, disperse, and disconnected (3D) cities across Mexico, including Mexico City (pictured). Photo by Emerson Posadas/Flickr.
For the past three decades, Mexican cities have followed a “3D” growth pattern – new developments have been Distant, Disperse, and Disconnected – resulting in the fragmented and unplanned expansion of urban sprawl. This kind of sprawling urban development turns out to be highly unproductive, deepens inequality, raises pollution levels, and increases greenhouse gas emissions.
Mexico's National Development Plan (PND), inaugurated in 2013, set forth six key reforms proposed by a coalition made up of EMBARQ Mexico, the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO), and the Mario Molina Center for Strategic Studies of Energy and the Environment (CMM). These organizations united under the banner and Twitter hashtag #ReformaUrbana to push for the needed changes through an effective and large-scale social media campaign. The highlights the importance of implementing integrated urban transport systems, promoting bicycle and pedestrian mobility, and setting the rational use of the private car as national policy. Building on this, EMBARQ Mexico has proposed 100 Ideas for Urban Reform for the government, addressing specific actions and tactics for pursuing the goals laid out in the PND. These proposals are the result of massive public input (both in person and through Twitter), as well as guidance from experts.
On the Blog
The “People-oriented Cities” series explores how cities can grow to become more sustainable and livable through transit-oriented development (TOD). Read more on TheCityFix - produced by EMBARQ.
