Abstract:

The growing traffic congestion and its environmental impact demand a paradigm shift in transportation planning in Mexico. This article presents the Mobility Pyramid as a fundamental strategy for prioritizing transportation modes in an efficient and equitable manner. Unlike traditional car-centric models, this pyramid establishes a hierarchy with pedestrians at the top, followed by cycling mobility, collective public transport, and finally, at the base, private vehicles, which are given the lowest priority.

The implementation of this strategy leads to multidimensional benefits. By prioritizing pedestrians and cyclists, it promotes public health, reduces noise and atmospheric pollution, and revitalizes public space. The commitment to an efficient and accessible public transport system ensures social equity and the ability to move a larger number of people more efficiently. Simultaneously, it discourages the use of private cars for short trips, thereby reducing congestion.

The objective of this work is to raise awareness about the function of the mobility pyramid among first-semester students of the Urban Mobility Engineering program at UPIEM-IPN. This will be achieved through in-class presentations and a question-and-answer session.

The methodology followed for this work consisted of three phases. The first phase involved forming five working teams with the first-semester students. The second phase required each team to select a problem caused by the incorrect application of the mobility hierarchy in Mexico, develop it, and propose a solution alternative. The third phase consisted of a series of presentations where the teams presented their work using digital media, followed by a question-and-answer session on their selected topic.

The results show that the students understood how the mobility hierarchy pyramid in Mexico functions, recognized its importance for the proper functioning of urban mobility, and raised questions about changes in road culture and the roles of different users on the road.

Keywords:

Mobility pyramid, sustainable mobility, mobility hierarchy, Mexico.