Linear Parks as Urban Commons—Considerations from Mexico City

Abstract

This article aims to understand, from the conceptual proposal of urban commons, the social processes of use and appropriation of infrastructures developed in the framework of urban sustainability policies in cities of the Global South. Specifically, it is part of the debate on the type of interventions needed to promote non-motorized mobility, based on a case study developed in the Ferrocarril de Cuernavaca, the first linear park built in Mexico City, which is 59 km long and covers several areas of the city. The spaces, actors, and uses of the linear park were documented using a mixed methodology that included participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and systematic image capture using a modification of the SOPARC system. Our fieldwork exposed substantial socioeconomic inequalities within areas intersecting the linear park, in conjunction with a pronounced imbalance of public funding dedicated to its maintenance and enhancement. Regardless of these disparities, we observed an array of diverse uses initiated by urban infrastructure users, adapting the space to cater to their individual requirements, interests, and endeavors. This variability plays a decisive role in shaping the public space management policies in several instances. Based on these results, we stress the necessity of fostering inclusive access to public spaces, as this is a crucial component of urban sustainability.