TED Talks Daily Sunday Pick: Mexico City
Jul 14, 2024
Jorge Canez, a Mexican activist and public servant known as Peatonito, discusses his inspiring work advocating for pedestrian rights in Mexico City. He highlights the unique blend of creativity and activism required to navigate urban challenges. From painting crosswalks to engaging citizens in transportation improvements, Canez embodies the spirit of community empowerment. He also shares insights on the collaborative effort to draft a new constitution that captures the voices of 21 million residents, emphasizing the transformative power of grassroots initiatives.
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Peatonito, the Pedestrian Superhero
- Jorge Canez, aka Peatonito, dons a luchador mask and cape to protect pedestrians in Mexico City.
- He escorts people, paints crosswalks, and even climbs on cars parked on sidewalks to make his point.
From Activist to Public Servant
- Jorge Canez transitioned from pedestrian activist to public servant.
- He realized that governing is complex and advocates should experience working within the government.
Mapping the Unmappable
- Mexico City's bus system, with over 30,000 peseros, lacked a comprehensive map.
- The Laboratorio para la Ciudad created Mapatón, a crowdsourcing app, to map the routes.