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Case study – Buying in the open: renewing Mexico City’s cycle hire scheme

Mexico City Government

Figure 27: Bicycle hire scheme

Mexico City has used early engagement with suppliers to make sure its bicycle hire scheme has a
sustainable future.

Summary

• Early engagement with suppliers encourages innovation.
• It is possible to share detailed requirements and broader outcomes.

• Using open data builds public trust and encourages participation.

The problem

Notorious for its grinding traffic and smog-filled air, Mexico City seemed an unlikely place to launch
a bicycle hire scheme back in 2010. But today, it would be hard to imagine the capital without its
fleet of little red “EcoBicis” weaving between gridlocked cars and buses.

In October 2019, the city announced its intention to expand the scheme and increase the number
of bikes from 6 500 to 10 000 within five years. The problem was that since its inception, EcoBici
had been run by just one supplier and a decade on, much of its infrastructure needed updating
or replacing.

76 Procurement guidelines for smart sustainable cities | May 2023