Walk to recover the old train rails

On May 14, the University of Azuay organized a walk in support of the project of the Ministry of Transportation and Public Works to recover the old train rails and turn them into a bike path from Cuenca to El Descanso.

The recovery of this physical space has to do with a principle that the University of Azuay wants to promote in Cuenca and in the region: to return to a city focused on people.

The tour began at 08:00, departed from the Central Campus of the UDA to the Botanical Garden, then walked to the old train station in the Gapal area and finally reached the road to El Valle.

The walk was attended by members of the university community, councilors and the undersecretary of the Ministry of Transportation and Public Works, David Jaramillo, who prior to the walk held a meeting with the Rector of the University of Azuay, Francisco Salgado to define dates for the signing of the agreements to carry out the proposed projects.

“Civic projects require everyone's effort so that they actually become reality. Our objective as a University is to support this project where the residents, of the almost 40km that this bike path will have, take ownership of it, take care of it and make it flourish ”, explained the Rector.

For his part, David Jaramillo, undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport and Public Works, mentioned feeling proud “of having started a conversation to reach a common goal, which is the reestablishment of the railway line as a new bike path for the city of Cuenca and the Province of Azuay ”.

The official said that "an agreement will be signed with the UDA, where, through pre-professional practices, everything that you have taught us in public works can be applied."

In dialogue with Campus, the UDA doctor Fabián Jaramillo, who began with this idea of ​​recovering that road, explained that “in certain sectors the rails have disappeared, people are stealing, and people are trying to take over certain parts of the route ”.

Jaramillo added that several cycling clubs in the city are supporting this project, which -if it materializes- would also be good for tourism:  

"Of course, if someone comes from another city and wants to walk or ride a bicycle, they can easily use the road, it would be very striking."

Finally, he added that the road must be safe, with lighting, cameras and every certain point with panic buttons.

"Also, it would be ideal for the mounted police to be circulating on the road and thus provide greater security," he concluded.

UDA Correspondents