Ecobici concession to increase Mexico City advertising by 684%

A new public tender for the Ecobici bike-sharing system in Mexico City is expected to significantly increase outdoor advertising in the capital. Jorge Carlos Negrete, president of the Fundación por el Rescate y Recuperación del Paisaje Urbano, stated that the concession allows for up to 4,000 new advertising spaces, representing a 684% increase in outdoor advertising.

The winning company, 5M2, could generate between 1,000 and 2,000 million pesos annually from these advertising rights. This revenue is separate from the approximately 2,400 million pesos the Mexico City government will pay the company to provide the bike-sharing service over the next 10 years.

Critics argue that this expansion violates the Outdoor Advertising Law, specifically regarding the required distance between advertising structures. Concerns were also raised that the focus on advertising revenue may overshadow mobility improvements, noting that while stations will increase by 63%, the number of bicycles will only grow from 9,300 to 15,000 over the decade.