The Streets of Querétaro

Some folks have wondered if I will be riding my bikes down here. It sounds like the perfect solution to getting around a historic district that is relatively compact with little parking. That is, until you look at the streets. The other day, I took pictures of the route we take to C's "culture classes" three days a week. I will let her tell you about the classes, which are for women only!

The entire walk is about 15 minutes from our house, and mostly along our street, 16 de Septiembre. Here are some representative shots of what the traffic situation is like on the side streets. The main streets are worse.

Down the block from our house. The building on the right is the philosophy and social science faculty of the Universidad Autonoma de Querétaro (I think). The red SUV is trying to park head first!

Further down the street. The people on the left are waiting in line for free bread from the nuns who live there. This is the only time I have seen alms being given out. There are a surprising number of help-wanted signs in stores and restaurants, but they usually require attractive women between 18 and 23! That kind of restricts the number of people who would qualify, and would, of course, be illegal in the US.

At the point where 16 de Septiebre becomes a pedestrian street or andador (straight ahead on the right.)

The andador section with cabling being done. There are little ramps for bikes and wheelchairs in the occasional steps in the andador, but until the cabling is done it is pretty hazardous.

Intersection of 16 de Septiembre with La Corregidora (main north south street in town) and the Zenea garden. Pretty light traffic this morning.


Past the Zenea garden. No traffic for the moment because the stores don't open until later.

Where 16 de Septiembre ends at Calle Allende and C heads off to her class.

Note the loan bicyclist (no helmet!). Taxi is trying to sneak onto Allende. C headed off in this direction in above photo.


The other direction on Allende with Plaza Guerrero on the left and my street (to go to chess practice where Maestro Javier babysits me while C is in class) between the pink and whites houses on the right.

And you can't even think about riding on the sidewalks which are much too narrow and have telephone polls, guy wires and other obstacles. I want to bring the bikes back in June, but it will be a challenge finding someplace to ride them.