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Topes

thebajarunner - 4-18-2005 at 07:16 PM

In the past year the incidence of topes, especially in the Camalu-SQ corridor, are simply overkill.
Any idea why, when, how this epidemic has struck the main highway?
(Actually, if there is no oncoming traffic then a swing into the left lane to the main tope, then back to the right, pretty well clears the way.)
Also, just wondering, what is the purpose of the stop sign in Bahia (LA)??? Did Guillermo install that one himself just to direct traffic into his driveway?

Baja Arriba!!

That's what I used to think too...

Mike Humfreville - 4-18-2005 at 07:21 PM

but it turns out that the crosswalk for the students is there. If you look west from the stop sign you'll see the school there, in the background.

woody with a view - 4-18-2005 at 07:25 PM

the topes in baja pale in comparison to the ones i experienced near puerto escondido, oaxaca 20 years ago.

a couple years outta high scool and we're heading south in the rental car to check out what was around the next bend in the road...and the next bend...and, well you get the idea.

all of a sudden a rusty, faded sign declares, "topes!".

OH MY GAWD!!!!!!!

STOP-LOOK OUT!!!!

to this day, Regan and i still get puckered up:moon: and get a chuckle :lol:

out of those FOOT HIGH TOPES!

Dave - 4-18-2005 at 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by thebajarunner
In the past year the incidence of topes, especially in the Camalu-SQ corridor, are simply overkill.
Any idea why

Because typically, Mexican drivers don't obey road signs.

In Belize they call Topes "Sleeping Policemen"

vgabndo - 4-18-2005 at 07:47 PM

Which brings to mind visiting my old Mom in Canby Oregon and every time we went by the grade school there was a cop dozing in a cruiser. I finally realized I was crawling by a maniquin in a spare squad car. :fire:

[Edited on 4-19-2005 by vgabndo]

Bruce R Leech - 4-18-2005 at 08:08 PM

I don't mind the topes as long as they worn you they are there or at least paint them. two years ago I lost a car when they put in the new ones at San Ignacio and did not mark them or paint them. I hit it at 85 miles an hour in an overloaded pickup. now I no where that one is. Probably I'm the reason they put it in.

Mexray - 4-18-2005 at 09:20 PM

Here's a little ditty I wrote on this subject a while back...

Lions and tigers and cows, oh boy! by, Ray Cellar 2000

It's hard at night to see them on the trail,
Our headlights are dim and beginning to fail.

I react from 'Go' to 'Whoa' in the darkness ahead,
A creature appears while I yell, "we're dead!"

The screeching begins, the fumes fill the air,
The smoke drifts away, I think we are there!

We have bumped to a halt with a clank and a jog,
The ice chest's now in front, along with the dog!

As we gather our wits and take a quick breath,
We count all our fingers and again cheated death!

We look through the glass and strain all four eyes,
The 'Creature' has gone - it's said it's good-byes.

We look to the left, we look to the right,
We look all around, we look in plain sight.

Where did it come from, where did it go?
It must be beneath us, it has to, I know.

Then I spy it nearby, it's colored off-white,
Makes it more visible in the dark of the night.

Laid there by strangers, with a hearty 'OK',
We've just been 'attacked' by a G.. damn TOPE!

Bruce R Leech - 4-19-2005 at 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mexray
Here's a little ditty I wrote on this subject a while back...

Lions and tigers and cows, oh boy! by, Ray Cellar 2000

It's hard at night to see them on the trail,
Our headlights are dim and beginning to fail.

I react from 'Go' to 'Whoa' in the darkness ahead,
A creature appears while I yell, "we're dead!"

The screeching begins, the fumes fill the air,
The smoke drifts away, I think we are there!

We have bumped to a halt with a clank and a jog,
The ice chest's now in front, along with the dog!

As we gather our wits and take a quick breath,
We count all our fingers and again cheated death!

We look through the glass and strain all four eyes,
The 'Creature' has gone - it's said it's good-byes.

We look to the left, we look to the right,
We look all around, we look in plain sight.

Where did it come from, where did it go?
It must be beneath us, it has to, I know.

Then I spy it nearby, it's colored off-white,
Makes it more visible in the dark of the night.

Laid there by strangers, with a hearty 'OK',
We've just been 'attacked' by a G.. damn TOPE!

Mexitron - 4-19-2005 at 07:12 AM

You got that one right Mexray......!!! Very funny.....

I'm really hoping they'll put a road around the whole Camalu-SQ corridor for people driving thru--they're the ones who are speeding, mostly, I would guess.

El Jefe - 4-19-2005 at 07:59 AM

Way to go Mexray! That was great. Maybe we should start up a Baja Poetry section on the board. Well...then again, maybe not. The poems and song lyrics that do pop up in the middle of threads are nice surprises.

Thanks

El Jefe - 4-19-2005 at 08:07 AM

Topes;
My favorite stretch of topes is in San Pedro, south of La Paz. I've had many locals smile when I refer to their little town as San Pedro del Tope.

Other old poorly marked favorites are 1. coming into San Ignacio from the south, and 2. Mulege just north of the Serenidad turnoff. I've hit both of these hard more than once, even though I well know they are there. Maybe it is the scenery or whatever that has my attention and then, Wham! Dammit, I knew that was comming!

bajalera - 4-19-2005 at 11:24 AM

On the Gulf road south of La Paz, San Bartolo--alias "San Topolo"--has five or six topes, which seems like more than a fair share for such a small settlement.

Lera

turtleandtoad - 4-19-2005 at 04:24 PM

I have to admit, they have gotten My attention! After cracking the skin around one of my slides by hitting a tope too fast, I found myself stopping at yellow stripes PAINTED on the road.

But I've been wondering about the little "mini-topes" that I've run across approaching a few curves and vados. Why do they run them all the way across the road, not just on the approaching traffic side?

Frigatebird - 4-19-2005 at 05:26 PM

To keep people from driving on the wrong side of the highway trying to avoid them.

woody with a view - 4-19-2005 at 05:38 PM

Quote:

Why do they run them all the way across the road, not just on the approaching traffic side?

it's faster than filling in the potholes with the leftover asphalt! :lol:

thebajarunner - 4-20-2005 at 04:59 PM

Topes??? Got a U2U asking "what is topes??"

Well, I looked in my special Baja Dictionary (provided by Baja Vida)

Topes (n) a medieval contrivance, awkwardly place in public thoroughfares, attempting to hinder, distract, confound or otherwise seriously damage the conveyance and demeanor of the previously happy traveller.

Seriously, the topes are those speedbumps which the Mexican government has placed on the highway to slow traffic. Sometimes near schools, sometimes in populous areas, other times with no apparent rhyme nor reason.

Possibly endorsed by dentists and auto body repair men due to the teeth jarring, metal bending affect if not properly negotiated.

Baja Arriba!!

turtleandtoad - 4-20-2005 at 05:39 PM

You forgot to mention that they are also used as a platform for selling fruit, newspapers, juice, and cowboy hats; and to collect donations for the local schools, red cross, etc.

You also never know how high or steep the tope will be. Is this a 20 km tope or a 2 km tope?

Finally, the tope is the reason that a good 40% of the cars are in need of a muffler! And why people don't bother to replace a broken or missing muffler (why bother, when the next tope is going to eat it)

Arthur - 4-25-2005 at 02:44 PM

I gotta see one of those 2 km topes. Do they give you a ladder with it?

It's actually called

jrbaja - 4-25-2005 at 03:07 PM

San Bartope by some. They are there because of the dead children that were littering the streets before the topes were put in to slow people in a hurry down.
One of the unfortunate parents of one of these tragic incidents paid for these topes himself.
I think it's a shame that some gringos are inconvenienced by these "mountains" in the road! :lol:

Me No - 4-25-2005 at 03:17 PM

Anyone remember the Seven topes that used to be in what is now Maneadero? There was a tire shop adjacent to everyone of them. They used to light them up at night with burning 55 gallon drums. They were so big you almost needed 4 wheel drive to get over them. :lol:

Tio Rocky - 4-25-2005 at 03:46 PM

The reason for Topes is to slow traffic down?. If you?re the Mexican government, look at your options?. You pay a police officer to watch for speeders thru town knowing that he is probably just going to take a few pesos and let them go anyway? you have the car to buy, maintain, gas, tires etc?. Or you just pay a few bucks for concrete and end it there..

Personally I don?t like them but not a bad idea standing on the other side of the fence?

Tio Rocky

[Edited on 4-25-2005 by Tio Rocky]

bajaandy - 4-25-2005 at 05:19 PM

Hey Me No,
I remember those seven topes! I used to count 'em just to make sure, but somehow I always messed up the count, especially at night.
"Was that number six or number...BAM!...seven?" :lol:

Bruce R Leech - 4-25-2005 at 05:23 PM

I love them they ,wake me up. :saint:

[Edited on 4-26-2005 by Bruce R Leech]

Mike Supino - 4-25-2005 at 05:25 PM

Never, I mean NEVER try to count the topes between Puerticitos and San Felipe. After a couple of adult beverages the last tope will send you flying into next week!

[Edited on 4-26-2005 by Mike Supino]