Blind merchants' blockade at Mexico City Metro station escalates

Visually impaired vendors from the Mexican Association of Blind and Visually Impaired Persons have kept a blockage at the Balderas Metro station for more than 45 hours, demanding a meeting with Metro authorities over the allocation of commercial spaces. They allege that a rival group, favored by the transit system, has displaced them, destroyed equipment, and stolen merchandise. During the protest a public‑service motorcyclist tried to breach the barricade, causing three injuries, including a blind protester who was taken to hospital.

The incident occurs amid broader criticism of the Mexico City Metro’s management. Commentators point to chronic under‑investment, delayed modernization projects and recent CNTE‑led blockades that have halted traffic across the capital. The system’s director, Adrián Rubalcava, is blamed for allowing safety protocols to lapse and for inadequate dialogue with unions and concessionaires, fueling public frustration with the network’s reliability and safety.