Job Discussion Forums

[martyr13]

In a couple of months I'll be attending ITTO's TEFL Certification course in GDL. I haven't owned a car since college, and I've gotten by using my bike and public transportation (Miami). My premature research leaves me to believe that riding a bike in GDL is pretty brutal. Does anyone do it? Are there any cities in Mexico that are bicycle friendly?

[Phil_K]

Given tha absolutely appalling standard of driving in Mexico ("roadcraft" doesn't need a translation because it still wouldn't mean anything! ), I wouldn't say there was any city that was cycle "friendly". In Mexico City, the mayor, Marcelo Ebrard, like to think he is doing something for cyclists by closing the main avenue every Sunday so that cyclists can ride as badly as they like (which they do most of the time anyway), but there is no integral approach, such as cycle-lanes on all avenues. Also, given the state of the roads, with sunken drains, potholes, etc., it's not too easy to ride safely in the gutter.

Having said all that, I have to admit, as a totally un-PC car driver, I'm glad not to see too many cyclists, and think they should be subject to rigorous testing before going on the road, and once there, subject to the same rules and fines as car drivers with regard to riding in contraflow, jumping lights, riding on the sidewalk, etc. (Although car drivers do that with impunity in Mexico too! )

[MotherF]

I've biked quite a lot in my small city. Usually what I recomend to new teachers is not to start biking right away. There is plenty of public transport all over Mexico, so don't worry about needing a car. But take the public transport and walk around for the first few months to get a feel for the ebb and flow of traffic where you are. Then break into biking if you still want to.

[gregd75]

The previous two posts are interesting. I wonder if they are based in Guadalajara...

Although I would say that it CAN be dangerous to cycle here in GDL because drivers are very unpredictable, I would like to emphasise that there ARE cycle lanes here in the city. Federalismo, a street that cuts through the city has a dedicated cycle lane that may be useful.

Now, I think that having a cycle here, although may not be useful for travelling to work/study etc, there IS the recreativa every sunday from 8am to 2pm

[url]<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tagwZ7HA0O0?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tagwZ7HA0O0?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object> and the city has also developed a 'cycle recreativa' [/url]

The city has also put on a 'cycling recreativa' every Wednesday night where around 1,000 people cycle around the city at night, escorted by guides and police. Its pretty amazing to watch.

So, although a bike may not be the best transportation solution, it would definitely be useful for recreation here.

[Guy Courchesne]

Mexico City isn't too bad in some parts for bicycles but in others I wouldn't dare. They built a ciclopista several years back..some parts are great like through Chapultepec park and Reforma, but then other parts are a ridiculous hazard. One section goes against traffic and people mostly park on the ciclopista, so not well thought out.

I have a baby seat strapped to my mountain bike but only for Sundays when they close a bunch of streets in the city for bike and foot traffic only. You still have to deal with potholes but with the streets closed you aren't pressured by totally un-PC car drivers

I know teachers that use bicycles to commute to classes but you'd have to be pretty hardcore as mid week traffic rush hour is a mess and not everywhere is easily accessible by bicycle.

[donato]

Take it with a grain of salt, but a friend of mine who is a serious rider and has been living here for three years...anyway- around nine months ago he tried passing a megabus and completely miscalculated. The collision sent him flying and he broke his femur. To this day he is still in some pain. I'm not trying to discourage you from riding your bike, just be extra careful!

[martyr13]

Thanks for all of your replies. It doesn't sound like the ideal cycling environment, but neither is Miami. It'll be interesting to see how the two compare.

[mejms]