The hosts of the entertainment program "Ventaneando", Daniel Bisogno, Atala Sarmiento, Pedro Sola, and Mónica Castañeda, sparked controversy on February 7, 2017, by criticizing cyclists and the road infrastructure in Mexico City, particularly on Avenida Insurgentes.
Amid provocative statements, Daniel Bisogno suggested that pedestrians and cyclists should take more responsibility in traffic rather than always being seen as victims. However, his comments were widely rejected on social media, receiving criticism particularly from activists and cycling collectives.
Subsequently, Bisogno claimed that his comment was a joke that was poorly received by some people. He also criticized the installation of bike lanes, arguing that they reduced space for motorists and affected traffic. He even suggested that cyclists should be run over, which triggered strong reactions on social media and among mobility activists, forcing him to apologize.
Bisogno's stance was labeled as classist and aggressive, as many believe that bike mobility is a sustainable alternative in a city with serious traffic and pollution problems. Some of his most controversial comments included criticisms of the Metrobús and the installation of bike lanes on Insurgentes, even suggesting the need for a permit to run over in-a-hurry cyclists.
In this line of criticism, other hosts like Atala Sarmiento, Pedro Sola, and Mónica Castañeda expressed that Mexico City is not designed for cyclists, and that changes on Insurgentes had caused more chaos. These opinions reflected a negative stance towards sustainable mobility in the capital, in contrast to the government's efforts to promote the use of bicycles as an option to combat traffic and pollution.
