Mapocho River in Santiago has changed a lot since its sad days as the city's sewer and dump, to become today almost an urban park. Almost, because to this day still persist a variety of interruptions and "dark spots" that threaten its role and potential as main structural component of a comprehensive bicycle facility system.
These interruptions, mostly related to motorized infrastructure but also to private properties and uses, have proven very hard to negotiate
This is why the invitation of a group of visionaries to reclaim this space as a connective bike path is, among all the many ideas set forth in these days of intense public debate, by far one of the most sensible, doable and desirable ones.
For more information, check: Mapocho pedaleable and Mapocho42K
To gauge its full potential, we started the tour way up in Vitacura commune, where the river is still a natural part of the landscape -the authorities authorized bikers to use only a certain portion of the river basin downtown-
Finally, the river basim. While the politicians fight for the lions share of the state, the citizens get on the move to claim a neglected portion of urban space.
Corollary: Why is this good idea not implemented?
A little insight
Water rights in Chile are privately owned. They date back to pre-republican times. And is one of the best possible bussinesses to have: imagine owning the rights of a vital resource that simply runs down to you from the mountains, almost free, something that you can sell to farms, water companies (potable water is privately operated in Chile) It's like: just sit back and watch as the money flows in.
That is just a part of it.
There is also sand extraction rights, waterfront space properties...
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