Citizen Participation Program in Iztapalapa Precinct, with the implementation of Cablebus Line 2

Abstract

The growth of the world’s cities gives rise to new forms of urban mobility for their inhabitants. In Mexico City, unchecked urban growth in the city’s central areas has created new needs for transportation systems. The solution to this demand was the implementation of two cable car (Cablebus) lines in the city’s most densely populated precincts.

The transportation mode called “Cablebus” is a system of gondolas suspended in the air, which transports passengers over short distances from station to station. The rugged topography found in the Gustavo A. Madero and Iztapalapa precincts, located in the north and east of the city, respectively, was the reason behind the decision to implement this mode of urban mobility.

The aim of this article is to illustrate the process of active participation among residents, government agencies, and non-profit organizations in Iztapalapa Precinct that unfolded with the implementation of programs like Iztapalapa Mural, in relation to the community’s perception of the urban environment in the context of the implementation of the Cablebus. By making changes in their environment, the community comes to identify with their cultural rights and builds positive expectations for the urban environment. Thus, with the collaboration and support of local homeowners, their efforts led to the creation of 927 artistic murals, enlivening rooftops, perimeter walls, and façades.

Local residents express part of their cultural identity in the murals and share it with a wider public along the route of Cablebus Line 2. The perception among residents changes positively with regard to the safety of their living space and urban image. It opened new opportunities to improve and rescue public spaces that have been repurposed to achieve better interaction and communication in the community and create urban-architectural symbols that give the area a unique meaning and promote the integration of urban mobility by incorporating artistic expressions that reflect the local culture.