SCHEDULES THE DAILY MOBILITY PATTERNS IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA OF THE VALLEY OF MEXICO, 1994-2007

In Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) daily mobility shows a three peak-time pattern of trips. Such pattern is uncommon in urban areas in other countries, which tend to present a two peak-pattern. This difference is mainly attributed to young population trips back home from school. In the last 13 years, this pattern has only been slightly modified despite a large increase in the number of trips. However, some of MCMA trips do not follow this general pattern, showing considerable time segmentation; this is the case of trips by purpose, or centrifugal and centripetal trips. From a space-time point of view, people living in the periphery begin their first trip earlier, and even though if high-income travelers enjoy a later first trip, rich and poor show a similar and synchronic time pattern.