MÉRIDA.- The Cicloturixes Collective spoke out against the proposal to remove the planters in Montejo Walkwhich would help prevent road deaths and would be within the law, he said Everardo Flores Gomezpresident of the group.
“Removing the planters that protect the bike lanes would be illegal, it would violate the Constitution and the General Law of Mobility and Road Safety“.
This law states that “all authorities must observe the principles of mobility hierarchy, universal accessibility, road safety, sustainability and gender perspective,” said Flores Gómez.
Planters prevent road deaths
In the protest that cyclists carried out yesterday Saturday in the Monument to the Fatherlandthe activist specified that “shelter islands or planters are not obstacles.”
They are “mandatory safety devices to prevent road injuries and deaths, which is why we do not agree with their withdrawal.”
He recalled that last Monday, October 27, they sent a letter to the governor Joaquin Diaz Mena to ask you to also listen to them, to meet with cyclists and pedestrians, not only with the hoteliers and businessmen who are the promoters of the removal of the planters and the cycle path.
To date they have not been invited to those meetings, they stated.
“We respectfully ask that any physical intervention or work that involves the removal or modification of guard islands, planters, bollards, speed bumps, signage or trees on Paseo de Montejo and its area of influence be suspended until the corresponding technical evaluation is completed.”.
“An inter-institutional technical table is convened with the participation of organized citizens, academia and schools and competent government institutions (Mérida City Council, Imdut, ATY, Incay, SSP, Inah),” they expressed in the protest.
They ask that “the details of the announced project, as well as its legal basis, be publicly clarified and transparency encouraged.”
They criticize the councilor
Other speakers criticized the PRI councilor Gabriela Santinelli Recio for pointing out that bike lanes should only be in the south of the city where bicycles are used the most, which they considered as a racial and classist comment.
Likewise, they pointed out that instead of removing the bike lanes, as was done in the surroundings of the Plaza Harbor y Canek Avethey should do more.
They indicated that Paseo de Montejo is a tourist avenue, not for traveling at high speed, so cyclists must be protected, which contrary to what many say, is the road where they travel the most.
Flores Gómez stressed that, for these and many more reasons, they do not agree and will defend the permanence of the planters, not only with protests but also through legal means.
For example, he cited that as part of the Safe Mobility Coalition to which they belong, it is already being considered that, as soon as they begin the work to remove the planters, they will promote an amparo to defend them legally, and independently of other legal avenues to which they may resort.
Cyclists raise their voices in Mérida
They demand more cycle lanes
They pointed out that instead of removing the bike lanes, as was done around Harbor Plaza and Canek Avenue, they should do more. They indicated that Paseo de Montejo is a tourist avenue, not for traveling at high speed, so cyclists must be protected, which contrary to what many say, is the road where they travel the most.
Protection
Everardo Flores Gómez, president of the Cicloturixes Collective, cited as an example that as part of the Safe Mobility Coalition to which they belong, it is already being considered that, as soon as the work to remove the planters begins, they will promote a protection to defend them legally, and regardless of other legal avenues to which they may resort.