Mexico City's Metro System

Posted by Megan Lyles May 29, 2008

Mexico City’s metro system is notorious. In a city of twenty million people, I guess it would have to be. But aside from an attempted pickpocketing on my first morning in town, I found the metro quite pleasant. Trains were frequent and clean. Stations were easy to navigate. For tourists, easy navigation is key; you don’t want to wander about like a rube.

As a New Yorker, I'm proud of New York’s subway system. It's not the cleanest, but it’s certainly, um… the most famous. So whenever I travel to a city with a subway or metro system – London, Paris, Calcutta (yes, Calcutta has a subway!) - I can’t help but compare. Mexico City was no different.

Here’s the thing I didn’t like about the metro in Mexico City. Those doors close waaay too fast! As a result, when one crowd wants to exit and another wants to enter, sheer mayhem ensues, with each side trying to attain their goal before being stranded on train or platform. Obviously, physics-wise, they’re working at cross-purposes.

On one occasion, some old folks called my travel partner and me burros for trying to struggle past them to leave a subway car. Me! But I’m so nice and considerate! I just didn’t want to get stuck on the train, that’s all. Ouch. And what do you call old folks who violently push their way into a subway car before letting anyone off? I guess in Mexico City, just… normal.

If you’re traveling to Mexico City, don’t be afraid to ride the metro, do keep an eye on your valuables (as in any big city) and watch for those closing doors, they’re brutal.