It's been interesting to find common ground between the north of England – my stock in trade as a journalist since 1987 – and Mexico City where I've spent most of the last ten days.

Both have to endure a partial image stripped of context and rely on people to come and see for themselves that the first isn't all grit and gloom and the second not all drug-related violence and traffic jams.

The last especially; leave the freeways and Mexico City's large central area offers you quiet(ish) tree-lined streets and what might be called Boris Bikes Plus. These are Ecobicis, lined up in ranks like London's except that bikes are red and white rather than blue and rather more light and quick to respond than Boris ones. (A slight shame, to be honest, because I like seeing how slowly I can go on a Boris Bike – in quiet areas - without actually falling off).

A truck refreshes an emptying Ecobici rack in La Condesa, the cosmopolitan quarter where the scheme began five years ago. Note that Mexico City street taxis sport Bradford City's claret and amber. A good sign for Wembley.

The Mexican hiring system is also cheaper and easier than London's once you have registered; the downside is that you have to have to be a local resident to do this. The regulations are in full here (in Spanish but with a translation button). But there are ways for visitors to get round the restrictions, such as cards held by some hotels or using bikes offered for very reasonable hire fees by other operators.

It's worth going to the trouble, especially on a Sunday between 8am and 2pm when the city mounts its other big surprise: the eight lanes of the usually traffic-crammed Paseo de la Reforma are closed to all but walkers, cyclists, roller-skaters and a medley of other small, human-powered wheeled devices.

Slowly does it. The world and its pets on the Paseo de la Reforma

This is a wonderful sight, similar to the Skyrides held in the UK but on an epic scale with streams of people pedalling past some of the city's most famous attractions and a total length, including several other streets, of 24km (15mls) which expands to 32km (20mls) once a month. Riders include children, pets on curious carrying perches and scores of people in fancy dress. The route is lined with volunteers manning junctions, repair stations, chill-out and medical tents and places for anyone – including foreigners and visitors - to hire a bike and join in.

Encouraging cycling is part of a 15 year 'green city' programme, ardently promoted by the Mayor of Mexico City from 2006 until last year, Marcelo Ebrard, and likely to continue and expand because of rising use. Car driving is frustrating in the centre and anyone who has ever walked, or rather clambered, a Mexico City pavement, seamed and multi-storeyed by years of earthquakes, tree roots and DIY ramps to garages or doorway, can only be enthusiastic about two wheels.

Time to go. Police escort the cars back in at 2pm, while cyclists on the right enjoy the last few minutes of Reforma peace

Most outsiders who take part comment on the relaxed and friendly style of local bikers, with little of the speedster stuff and self-righteousness which can mar their UK equivalents. So it seemed to me; but the notion that Mexicans apply an indulgent mañana approach to city cycling may be getting too close to the cliches I deplored at the beginning. I hope you get the chance to enjoy it and decide for yourself. And that Manchester, Newcastle or my home city of Leeds takes a leaf from Mexico City's book.