Binational Bikeshare for the U.S.-Mexico Border

"The cities of El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez in the Mexican state of Chihuahua are considering a scheme to build an integrated binational bikeshare system between the two cities," reports Martín Echenique.

The possibility of bikeshare to enhance mobility between Texas and Mexico stands in sharp contrast to the immigration battle going on in Washington, D.C. and between immigration officials and families around the country, a fact that isn't lost on Echinique.

However, the city of El Paso's Metropolitan Planning organization has built a practical case for the system, and the bike trips would offer an alternative for workers crossing the border legally that currently make bus or walking trips. According to Echinique, the proposed system is more ambitious than the bike lane that crosses the U.S.-Mexico border between San Diego and Tijuana, "since it would require not only new lanes and infrastructure but additional cooperation with immigration agencies."