Going Green: Mexico City hopes electric bicycles can lure commuters out of cars

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Mexico City has been working for years to promote cycling as a green alternative. Now, the city hopes to coax even more commuters out of their cars by putting a little power into the pedals. CGTN's Alasdair Baverstock has the story.

EcoBici, a Mexico City bicycle sharing program -- with more than a quarter of a million registered users.

With more than fifty-million individual trips as of last week, the program has been so successful since its implementation in 2010, that a new model of bicycle has been introduced.

In an effort to engage even more users, last month the government-run operation rolled out an electric model, placing three hundred and forty units at dedicated stations throughout the capital.

ALEJANDRO TREJO ELECTRIC BICYCLE USER "It's great. I'd even say it's better than the traditional model, because it's faster, more comfortable and safer. There are cycle lanes wherever EcoBici is, so it's very efficient."

At fifteen kilometers per hour, Ecobici's electric models can run for forty kilometers, and need just two hours for a full charge.

They are targeted at riders who make longer journeys, as well as older citizens who may find cycling a struggle.

Yet not everyone is convinced.

"This city is very complicated, there's too much traffic and it's very hard to navigate."

"I'm sixty-five, and I wouldn't want to risk falling, because it would be easy to get run over."

Rosa Maria Gomez has worked to implement the EcoBici system since its inception in 2010.

"So if EcoBici is already so extensive throughout the city, why the addition of the electric bicycle."

ROSA MARIA GOMEZ DIRECTOR, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OFFICE "Two reasons. Firstly that EcoBici's coverage is extending into areas that are a not as flat, and secondly that we are seeing users making longer and longer journeys. So a bicycle that offers an extra push will be a great help to our users."

Angel Reyes is a cycling activist and has worked to promote it as a mode of transport in the capital.

ANGEL REYES CYCLING ACTIVIST "The electric bicycles have generated a lot of interest from the public. In the first two days, we saw two-thousand trips, so it's showing people that cycling can be a great alternative for transport in Mexico City."

As EcoBici expands across the capital, it is hoped that vehicular traffic will decrease.

ALASDAIR BAVERSTOCK MEXICO CITY As Mexico City's government works to promote cycling in the traffic-clogged capital, these electric bicycles will be a major draw, helping towards the ultimate aim of seeing more pollution-free, and health-promoting transport on these roads. Alasdair Baverstock, CGTN, Mexico City.