The death of a woman in a motorcycle accident on the morning of Friday, May 22, on the lateral road of the Mexico–Puebla highway near La María has once again brought a pressing issue to the forefront in Puebla’s capital: the rapid rise in motorcycle use as a response to an insufficient and fragmented public transportation system.

The accident took place near the Holiday Inn hotel. According to initial reports, the motorcycle driver lost control after a public transport vehicle cut them off. The motorcycle skidded, and the passenger was thrown onto the pavement, dying at the scene due to the severe impact.

This tragedy unfolds in a context where more and more people in Puebla are turning to motorcycles. Why? Long commute times, overcrowded routes, insecurity, poorly maintained vehicles, and a lack of efficient connectivity between different parts of the city and the metropolitan area are pushing residents to seek alternatives.

On major avenues and fast roads, motorcycles have become a common sight—not just as work tools, but as a daily mobility solution for thousands who find it unfeasible to rely solely on traditional public transport.

However, this surge in motorcycle use has also led to a rise in fatal accidents, especially in high-speed and high-conflict areas like the Mexico–Puebla highway, Periférico Ecológico, and Vía Atlixcáyotl.

Mobility experts argue that the issue can’t be solved just by cracking down on or restricting motorcyclists. Instead, they call for a more efficient, integrated, and modern public transport system—one that reduces the need for high-risk vehicles for daily commutes.

In this context, projects like the proposed Cablebús for Puebla are being discussed as potential alternatives to cut down travel times and connect areas currently underserved by conventional transport. Integrating systems like RUTA, feeder routes, and cable transport could offer a safer option for the thousands who today choose motorcycles simply because there are no better alternatives.

The fatality reported this Friday in La María not only highlights the mobility risks facing Puebla, but also underscores the urgent need to rethink the city’s urban transport model in the face of growing congestion and reliance on improvised solutions.