Bicycle taxis park for up to 20 minutes or half an hour in bike lane spaces outside shopping malls and restaurants. They should park for 10 minutes. Photo: Carlos Mejía / EL UNIVERSAL
More than a year after the regulations governing bicycle taxis in the Historic Center came into effect, the vehicles continue to park and park without any control. However, the Ministry of Mobility (Semovi) announced that it will take new measures, including updating the vehicle registration.
Furthermore, after detecting pirated service, it will seek to eradicate the practice.
The initial proposal was that operators must maintain constant rotation and may only remain in short-stay parking spaces for 10 minutes.
During a tour conducted by EL UNIVERSAL, it was observed that these designated spaces are blurred, lack proper signage, and are occupied by cars and even large jugs.
They set up base for up to 20 minutes, or even half an hour, on bike paths outside shopping malls, medical institutions, department stores, and restaurants.
“They haven’t told us anything. We continue to work normally. We try not to disturb anyone, but, well, we need to work,” said Carlos, an operator of these vehicles.
“They never clearly confirmed where to park to catch people, and we do it where we see an option. We have to work,” David emphasized.
Regarding this, Semovi informed this newspaper that it recently approached the cycle taxi organization and “it was agreed that the registry will be updated and the exclusive delimitation of the Historic Center for their service will continue. It has also been detected that there are many pirated services, and supervision will be strengthened to eradicate them.”
In June 2024, Semovi implemented measures for the operation of bicycle taxis, including the demarcation of 14 spaces: four on Donceles and República de Brasil streets, located on the south sidewalk of Donceles Street, 10 meters from its intersection with República de Brasil Street; two on the corner of Roldán and San Pablo streets, on the east sidewalk of Roldán and San Pablo streets, respecting the pedestrian crossing at the intersection.
Also, two on Jesús María and Soledad Street (on the east sidewalk of Jesús María and Soledad streets, within the existing bay); four on Mixcalco and Circunvalación Avenue (on the south sidewalk of Mixcalco, five meters from the intersection with Circunvalación); two on San Jerónimo and 20 de Noviembre Street (north sidewalk of San Jerónimo Street, within the existing bay).
On August 8, 2024, El UNIVERSAL reported that, without any regulatory authority, bicycle taxis in the Historic Center set up bases and stops in areas they deem appropriate, without a set time limit. These stops include the designated lane for trolley buses and bicycles, and they also bypass the Metrobus to attract passengers.
Now, in October 2025, during the tour, it was observed that in the area where four spaces were marked off on Mixcalco and Circunvalación streets, merchants had placed water jugs to reserve spots. Meanwhile, in the spaces at San Jerónimo and 20 de Noviembre, there are parked cars, and even bicycle taxis make stops for 10 to 20 minutes next to the designated point. “I didn’t know there were specific points for setting up bases,” Rolando said.
Another rule that cycle taxis must comply with is to display the Locatel phone number, the license plate number, and the licensee’s membership organization at all times, all of which will serve as information for citizens to file complaints with the authorities. However, in the Historic Center, it is common to see these vehicles with makeshift covers, lacking the required information.
Source: eluniversal
