Dear Sir,
I greatly appreciated Dale Palfrey’s recent column, Ciclovia Conflicts. I am a frequent guest here in Ajijic. When I come to stay with my sister-in-law, I always bring my folding bike. I walk it over the cobblestone streets and hop on the bike path heading either east or west. For me, as a cyclist, the Ciclovia is a real benefit, creating opportunities for exercising and exploration.
To further the conversation, I’d like to share a few observations.
In the photo (A), you can see the “Walk Your Bike Sign,” which is situated across the road from the Walmart on the Ajijic-San Antonio border. It’s a high-traffic and fairly dangerous intersection, yet few bike riders follow the direction to walk their bikes across the street. I believe this is a safety concern.
In photo (B), you can see a roundabout, directing bike riders to turn briefly off the main street. Many riders disregard these detours and stay on the main road, even though car and bus drivers would not be expecting them there. Also dangerous.
Lastly and more optimistically, photo (C) shows an example of a cobblestoned street with paved bricks lining the middle of the road. More streets similarly constructed would allow cyclists to maneuver more safely throughout Ajijic and other communities. Streets so constructed, however, are the exception, not the rule.
I offer these observations to further the conversation about making Ajijic more bike-friendly, something that would benefit locals and visitors like me.
Steven Schuit, Peaks Island, Maine