Guadalajara greens battle bridge boondoggle

An urgent call went out yesterday from Ciudad Para Todos (City for All) on their Facebook page as they mount a fierce resistance movement to the city’s multimillion dollar suspended bridge project.

Work commenced yesterday on the project with the felling of a stand of magnificent trees. Opponents say the bridge diverts much-needed transportation funds from other, more human-scale public works such as public transport, bike lanes, sidewalks and even basic road repairs.

“Bridges of Dialog,” reads the banner in the Ciudad Para Todos campsite, echoing a demand from opponents for a more democratic approach to urban planning.

After months of public hearings, demonstrations, letter-writing campaigns and other interventions, Ciudad Para Todos activists pulled out the tents and began camping in the right-of-way in an attempt to draw attention to the problem. Today they’re urging supporters to bring food, guitars, drums, board games, anything to help them pass the night.

Today I found an excellent multimedia blog, Paselo Aun Mejor, documenting the whole drama, including video footage, an extensive analysis of the bridge project, and an alternative transportation plan. You can also follow the events at the Facebook page of Ciudad Para Todos or follow them on Twitter.