Gilberto Alvarez is an example of the difficulties that people with disabilities face when traveling by mass public transportation such as Metro due to lack of infrastructure to guarantee this sector the right to mobility in Mexico City, which led him to file a lawsuit against the body, whose ruling was in his favor.
In interview for 24 HOURSGilberto shared that more than five years ago, due to a car accident, he became a person with a motor disability, forcing him to adapt to the capital’s mobility options, which, he highlighted, are not always accessible.
He stated that althoughmobility in the public transport Since the metro should be available to citizens, for some vulnerable groups it becomes complicated.
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“In the Metro… the reality is very different, the elevators when they exist are usually broken or are not available in all stations, the Ramps are insufficient or poorly designed,” he said.
He noted that these factors represent physical barriers which become constant reminders that public transport infrastructure is not designed for all people, which is why “it is not possible to use the Metro in a safe or dignified manner.”
“It’s as if the system told us: this space is not for you,” he said. Álvarez while pointing out that this situation motivated him to take action legal for him and other people with disabilities.
Impossibility of independence
The fact that the infrastructure does not work or does not exist in some stations represents not only the need to have to look for a police or citizen who supports them, but it means greater expenses, because sometimes they have to travel in another vehicle to get to a station that may be accessible, he added.
Diego Berry, one of the legal representatives of Álvarezindicated that the purpose of the lawsuit is that the Metro fulfill its obligation to be accessible transportation for people with disabilities and move towards a completely inclusive space.
However, they do not require it to be immediate, but they do require that it be reflected in gradual actions that show improvement and true inclusion for different vulnerable groups.
“If they do not do so or compliance is delayed, the protection authority “can dismiss, fine, and even disqualify (the person responsible) from office so that he cannot hold another public position in 10 years,” he stated. Berry.
With the protection, Gilberto and their lawyers remain firm to demand compliance with what was determined by the court, in addition to promoting other people with disabilities to demand their rights of access to a safe mobility y efficient.