About cycling in Cozumel

Sort of recovering from my post-holiday slump (does everyone catch a cold on the plane home) and remembered that I wanted to make to observations about cycling in Cozumel, that tourist island off the Yucatan Peninsula.

First, the guide books never really talked about bicycles, or merely mentioned them in passing.

In fact, I saw quite a few. The main road that makes a loop from the capital, San Miguel, then travels south along the west shore, then north along the east shore and finally cuts straight back across the island to the capital, is largely "doubled up." There something that is either separated completely from the main road, or adjacent to, that varies in width from an easy car width to a snug car width, on both sides of the main road, for the entire trip. It is primarily for slower vehicles: scooters, touring jeeps, etc., but bicycles can use it, and do. The downside is that the traffic on the main road pretty much ignores the speed limit and can come up on you quickly. Cycling at night would be risky.

The other matter of interest is how few bicycles had pedal platforms. Most of the bikes I saw in use had only the spindles of the former pedal protruding from the cranks. Not the best pairing with flip-flops, I would think.

Why do you suppose that is?

Comments

[Rob (Mk.II)]

Maybe because their poor?

[Roezone]

Hey Bill, can you plug this? Local Coldest ride of the year, aiming for this Friday. (Oh and it would be great to see you there as well!)

Thanks
http://waterloobikes.ca/2013/02/02/first-annual-winter-bike-ride-feb-7th-2013/

[Frank Xavier]

Bill,

I think the reason is poverty and bicycles that go on for almost ever. As a child, I remember many bikes like this and they had been used and abused for decades..and that was in Toronto in humbler times. Pedals ultimately break and then folks find away of prying them off the spindle..and thats how they stay. Give them a new bike with pedals and they will use it until they fall apart. The high heat and sun might also accelerate the breakdown of rubber and other synthetics making up the pedal material as well. Bikes just get left out in the sun too much cause they are things that maybe are rarely stolen or maybe this is Cozumel "share a bike" :)

From my brief gambit on the Internet on Cozumel, I ran across a few descriptions of folks riding around with beers in their hands as well :) Sounds like a pretty laid back venue. Hope you had a great vacation !