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Pompano
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BAJA ROAD - Present Dangers - BIkers And Joggers
BIKES ON THE BAJA ROAD
Some info on The Baja Highway. (Mex 1)
Many people travel from the USA and Canada to Baja by car, RV, motorcycle or bicycle. The Transpeninsular Highway is well maintained, but it is very
narrow and winding in many places. The middle section is the most remote and desolate. Driving it alone can be a serious challenge and driving at
night is not recommended. Horses and cows, in addition to other wildlife often cross the road or stray right into the road! This is a serious hazard.
Trucks in particular are very dangerous and be alert whenever anyone is passing, or head on collisions may result.
The largest and widest load I ever witnessed was around 1976 or so when 4 large-large rigs hauled down HUGE generators to La Paz. These rigs were
traveling very slowly and jammed traffic completely...maybe 14 feet wide or so. They covered the entire road and you had to wait for clearance from
their support vehicles..both directions. That convoy took 2 weeks to make it from Tijuana to La Paz.
Mostly the Road has been repaired, renewed, and re-engineered so many times by now, it is hard to get a figure on it's average width today. Mostly
it is still TOO NARROW..so stay on your toes when pulling your rig!
BIKES ON THE BAJA ROAD:
By bicycle:
We as a society are trying to promote biking as a healthy, active alternative to driving.
Therefore, it is a given that we need bike lanes, safer routes and better educated drivers/bikers.
I am stating personal observations and posting photos I have taken of biking events chanced upon in my travels.
Biking the Baja Road today as compared to yesteryear.
There seems to be little bicycling down the Baja peninsula these days. Most of the big races involving thousands of Mexican and a few American
contestants have long since disappeared because of the new high volume of traffic due to Baja 'improvements'. It peaked around the early 90's I would
think. Today you see very few singles or small groups. The word is out...the road is too dangerous now...for most. 
The early 70's-80's were full of adventuring bicyclers. I made many, many trips in that time period. Because I realized the limitations of that poorly
contructed and narrow highway, I personally never had any problems with them, and quietly wondered at the stamina to make such a trip.
But...having made frequent trips on that highway and having had my share of close calls from passing, overtaking, on-coming, and stalled vehicles, I
will simply state the dangers inherent on the Baja Road...which to me is from San Quentin to Cabo. The dangers are there for bicyclists and motorists
alike. Here is the highway....you may draw your own conclusions as to how to drive it safely.
The Baja Highway
Width of the pavement: 19 feet
Width of the shoulder: 0 feet
Width of a truck/bus/RV: 8 feet
Added width for mirrors: 1 foot
Width used by two passing trucks/etc: 18 feet
Safety separation used by
two passing trucks/etc: 1 foot
Room left for a bicycler: 0 feet
In 1971-73 The Baja Road was constructed to just accommodate two passing 8-foot vehicles, and no more! Many of the roadsides drop off anywhere from a
few feet to a few hundred feet (in these extreme cases, there will usually be a low guard rail right at the edge of the pavement). Also, the edge of
the pavement will often have chunks broken off or washed away, leaving "edge potholes" which have to be dodged.
There you have it....bien viaje.
IF YOU DO BIKE THE BAJA HIGHWAY:
There is a slow but steady trickle of travelers riding their bicycles in Baja. On the Transpeninsular Highway this is fairly straightforward. A
traditional touring, or hybrid bike is an excellent choice for the Transpeninsular. The middle stretch of the road and the peninsula present regions
that are both very mountainous and desolate. Riding a bike on the numerous other roads would certainly require a mountain bike, and would be
preferable with a support vehicle due to the difficulty in acquiring basic supplies (the main concern being water) and the difficulty carrying baggage
on rough roads.
Trying to travel by bike unsupported off the Transpeninsular is for those who don't distinguish between masochism and adventure. Either on or off the
Transpeninsular, good quality tires, lots of patches, spare tubes, and other puncture resistant measures are important, due to the large numbers of
vicious thorns.
Drivers on the Transpeninsular Highway are often very reckless, however most drivers treat cyclists with more respect (perhaps due to their novelty)
then cyclists get elsewhere in North America. If one chooses to bike in what is normally a very hot climate and incredibly remote region at times, the
whole endeavor should only be undertaken with much prudence and planning.
Present Day:
These photos were all taken on the same day...Dec 8th, 2010. All occurred between Sta. Rosalia and Coyote Bay.
Very, very dangerous bikers...and even a couple of suicidal walker/joggers. Jog the Baja Road..? Inconceivable and unbelievably naive.
It is only a matter of time before there is a fatality..or multiple fatalities.
Bikes and joggers..best get aware...before it's too late.
[Edited on 12-10-2010 by Pompano]
[Edited on 12-10-2010 by Pompano]
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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mcfez
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Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
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Pacific coast highway.......same thing right above San Francisco. These pea brain jerks are riding the street with death next to them.
I just love to drive around a turn......there they are...right smack in the road.
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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monoloco
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I would also add that drinking and driving is a national sport in Mexico, particularly on weekends, so it would be wise to avoid biking from Saturday
afternoon through Sunday.
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wessongroup
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21152
Registered: 8-9-2009
Location: Mission Viejo
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Mood: Suicide Hot line ... please hold
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Thanks, for "showing" what all that drive the road down your way have been talking about... along with the exact dimensions of the road which all will
share while doing anywhere from 4 mph to 70-80 mph...
Strange that folks are very alert to the dangers of TJ, drinking water, carrying emergency items.. yet in some cases, completely dismiss any danger
related to a perceived "right" to travel in Mexico as they "wish" when it comes to a particular mode of transportation..
Must agree, it is only a matter of time for one and/or more folks to get killed or maimed out on that road ... and one should consider first responder
time... you might be waiting a bit alongside the road... with broken bones and bleeding all over the place before someone shows up to plug and patch
ya up...
Hope all stay safe.... please drive carefully ......
[Edited on 12-10-2010 by wessongroup]
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Marc
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As I have stated here before; I am a retired bicycle racer with thousands of miles of road training. I WOULD NEVER BIKE RIDE THE BAJA HIGHWAY!
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windgrrl
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Very, very true. Passed these folks on the way down. Have cycled many miles in the past and highways in general have their risks.
Now having seem the delicate samba between tons of steel on wheels on the Mex.1 curvas peligrosas...it is indeed upping the risk factor to add the two
wheeler 2-step.
When the way comes to an end, then change. Having changed, you pass through.
~ I-Ching
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bajajudy
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Location: San Jose del Cabo,BCS
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This photo
always said it all for me. I think that JR posted it first.
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Mike99km
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Registered: 5-23-2007
Location: San Dimas and ? in baja
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If the biker knows the the hazards and decides to make the ride, good for them. I know this isn't the common consensus here, but some people are more
prone the take risks then others. When you know that risking life and limb are a stake and still chose to do the the activity, well have at it.
Most people are risk averse and criticize those that are not. Some of us have take up sports that have a high leave of risk and we choose to pursue
then with vigor. That is our choice and we except the out come of our mistakes.
I don't think it would take very long for biker riding down Hwy 1 to figure out how dangerous it is. It's their choice to continue riding. What ever
happens after that is on them.
We can always say they died doing what they loved.
You live the life you settle for.
"Never teach a pig to sing it frustrates you and annoys the pig" - W. C. Fields.
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sancho
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Agree with the statement about drinking drivers,
I have a rule to avoid driving on Sundays in Mex,
not that Mex has a corner on the market re: drunk
drivers, but the weekends seem especially risky.
A good # of Bicycle Travellers headed so., appear
to be Euro's, flying a Country flag from their bike,
I think they look at a map of Baja, and see a road,
and don't realize how narrow, shoulderless it
is
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Mike99km
If the biker knows the the hazards and decides to make the ride, good for them. I know this isn't the common consensus here, but some people are more
prone the take risks then others. When you know that risking life and limb are a stake and still chose to do the the activity, well have at it.
Most people are risk averse and criticize those that are not. Some of us have take up sports that have a high leave of risk and we choose to pursue
then with vigor. That is our choice and we except the out come of our mistakes.
I don't think it would take very long for biker riding down Hwy 1 to figure out how dangerous it is. It's their choice to continue riding. What ever
happens after that is on them.
We can always say they died doing what they loved. |
I agree with your thoughts on pursuing high risk activities and I have/do some myself. Many of those activities however only risk injury to the risk
taker, that is not the case here. So "when they die doing what they loved" they will likely drag some innocent person/s into the mix.
That is what angers many here IMO.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64852
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Another great Hwy. 1 photo from the late jrbaja...
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Barry A.
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Several times we hauled a 24' SkipJack to Bay of LA, but on one trip down we ruined 3 trailer tires by dropping them off the pavement in just such a
predicament as pictured, on 2 different occasions. We also lost the drivers-side rear view mirror to a passing truck. That was the final straw, and
we gave up hauling that boat down forever more---------crazy!!!!!
I won't even comment on the bicycle riders except to say that more than once they nearly caused me to crash, and scared the beeJesus out of me,
not-with-standing the constant annoyance of having to brake hard to avoid hitting them. It is their slow speed that causes the most headaches, IMO.
We NEVER travel that road over 55 mph, and mostly a lot slower than that. It is dangerous enough without having to deal with snail-slow bikes.
Barry
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LancairDriver
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TextWatch out mirror!
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Location: San Diego County
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Awesome photo!!
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sanquintinsince73
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| Quote: | Originally posted by monoloco
I would also add that drinking and driving is a national sport in Mexico, particularly on weekends, so it would be wise to avoid biking from Saturday
afternoon through Sunday. |
Google translation:
MEXICO CITY-In Mexico it is estimated that about 200 thousand people driving under the influence of alcohol from six in the evening, Thursday through
Saturday, resulting in increased accidents, injuries, suicides and homicides, said Roy Rojas, International Road Safety Advisor of the Pan American
Health Organization.
"Se estima que hasta 50 por ciento de las muertes por accidente de tránsito está asociado al consumo de alcohol", dijo el especialista tras alertar a
las autoridades a extremar precauciones durante los periodos vacacionales, informó Milenio. "It is estimated that up to 50 percent of traffic
fatalities associated with alcohol consumption," said the specialist after alerting the authorities to exercise caution during holiday periods,
Milenio reported.
"México es precisamente uno de los países que está penosamente en la vanguardia en lo que es consumo de licor y, lógicamente, las consecuencias
negativas que tiene no sólo son muertes y lesiones por accidentes de tránsito, sino que está vinculado también a los homicidios, suicidios ya la
violencia doméstica". "Mexico is just one of the countries that are painfully in the forefront of what is consumption of liquor and, of course, has
negative consequences not only deaths and injuries from traffic accidents, but is also linked to the killings, suicides and domestic violence. "
Por ello, México está entre los primeros lugares, a escala mundial, de consumo de alcohol así como de accidentes, por lo que exhortó a las autoridades
a ser más estrictos con las sanciones para disminuir a menos de 0.5 el nivel de alcohol permitido a los conductores. Therefore, Mexico is among the
first places worldwide, alcohol consumption and accidents, and he urged the authorities to be stricter penalties to decrease to less than 0.5 alcohol
level allowed drivers.
O bien, de plano, aplicar la tolerancia cero, que abarque no sólo las carreteras federales, sino también los estados y los 127 municipios donde se ha
detectado mayor prevalencia de conductores alcoholizados. Or, flat, apply zero tolerance, encompassing not only the federal highways, but also states
and 127 municipalities that have detected a higher prevalence of drunk drivers.
En México existe un subregistro de los accidentes automovilísticos que ocurren al año, por lo que la cifra puede ser hasta seis veces mayor a las
estadísticas oficiales que marcan 890 mil accidentes, cerca de 17 mil decesos, 40 mil lesiones con discapacidad y 700 mil hospitalizaciones, reconoció
Arturo Cervantes del Centro Nacional para la Prevención de Accidentes, de la Secretaría de Salud. In Mexico there is underreporting of crashes that
occur each year, so the figure may be up to six times higher than official statistics that mark 890 000 accidents, about 17 000 deaths, 40 000
injuries with disabilities and 700 000 hospitalizations acknowledged Arturo Cervantes National Center for Injury Prevention, the Ministry of Health.
Por cada fallecimiento, hay al menos 17 hospitalizados en México, dijo Rojas. For every death, there are at least 17 hospitalized in Mexico, Rojas
said. Mientras que en el mundo mueren cada año cerca de 1.2 millones de personas por accidentes de tránsito y entre 20 y 50 millones resultan heridas.
While in the world die each year about 1.2 million traffic accidents and between 20 and 50 million are injured.
La Secretaría de Salud detalló que los accidentes viales son la primera causa de muerte entre la población de entre cinco y 35 años y la segunda causa
de orfandad en México. The Ministry of Health explained that road accidents are the leading cause of death among people aged between five and 35 years
and the second leading cause of orphans in Mexico.
Además de que provoca la hospitalización de 750 mil personas, la discapacidad de 40 mil y ocasionan un costo económico a la nación por más de 110 mil
millones de pesos. Besides causing the hospitalization of 750 000 people, 40 000 disability and cause an economic cost to the nation for more than 110
billion pesos.
El funcionario explicó que tan sólo las aseguradoras de automóviles registran hasta 5 millones de accidentes, lo que indica que se ha convertido en un
problema de salud pública que genera gastos a la nación por más de 110 mil millones de pesos. The official explained that only car insurance to 5
million recorded accidents, which indicates that it has become a public health problem that is costly to the nation for more than 110 billion pesos.
Cervantes explicó que alrededor de 2 millones de adolescentes sufren lesiones por accidentes de tránsito y una tercera parte de ellos termina con
fracturas, 25 por ciento con golpes o moretones, uno de cada cinco con raspones superficiales o profundos y 15.6 por ciento, corte o perforación de
piel. Cervantes said that about 2 million teenagers are injured from traffic accidents and one third of them end up with fractures, 25 percent with
bumps and bruises, one in five with superficial or deep scratches and 15.6 percent, cutting or drilling skin.
Estudios del Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría indican que en México se consume alcohol puro con un promedio per cápita de 5 litros, y que se equipara
a lo que se registra en los países desarrollados y altamente bebedores, como Estados Unidos, y está por encima del promedio latinoamericano. Studies
of the National Institute of Psychiatry in Mexico indicate that pure alcohol consumed per capita average of 5 liters, which equates to what is
recorded in developed countries and high drinkers, the United States, and is above average Latin America.
La Encuesta Nacional de Adicciones establece que 5.5 por ciento de la población tiene abuso y dependencia de bebidas alcohólicas, 9.7 por ciento de
hombres y 1.7 por ciento de mujeres. National Addiction Survey states that 5.5 percent of the population is abuse and alcohol dependence, 9.7 percent
of men and 1.7 percent of women.
Sólo en el IMSS, el consumo de alcohol y las distracciones al conducir vehículos, provocó que en siete meses se otorgaran más de 80 mil consultas por
accidentes en la vía pública. Only in the IMSS, alcohol and distractions while driving, caused in seven months will be awarded more than 80 000 visits
for accidents on public roads.
México forma parte de la lista de 10 países en el mundo que registran altos niveles de mortalidad y de accidentes automovilísticos. Mexico is part of
the list of 10 countries in the world that high levels of mortality and car accidents.
Se tratan de naciones que, junto con India, China, Estados Unidos, Rusia, Brasil, Irán, Indonesia, Sudáfrica y Egipto, concentran prácticamente 62 por
ciento de dicho problema de salud pública. These are nations that, along with India, China, United States, Russia, Brazil, Iran, Indonesia, South
Africa and Egypt, concentrated almost 62 percent of the public health problem.
En México 10 estados se han convertido en un foco rojo de lesiones por accidente. In Mexico, 10 states have become a flashpoint of accidental injury.
Se trata de Baja California, Tamaulipas, Quintana Roo, Aguascalientes, Nayarit, Sonora, Colima, Distrito Federal, Jalisco e Hidalgo. This is Baja
California, Tamaulipas, Quintana Roo, Aguascalientes, Nayarit, Sonora, Colima, Distrito Federal, Jalisco and Hidalgo.
En cuanto a egresos hospitalarios, en primer lugar se ubica Colima, después le siguen Baja California Sur, Tabasco, Aguas Calientes, San Luis Potosí,
Campeche, Yucatán, Sinaloa, Guanajuato y Nayarit. As for hospital discharges, first Colima is located, then you are Baja California Sur, Tabasco,
Aguas Calientes, San Luis Potosi, Campeche, Yucatan, Sinaloa, Guanajuato and Nayarit.
Operativo especial Special operation
Como una medida para disminuir los accidentes en las carreteras aledañas al Distrito Federal, la Secretaría de Seguridad Pública capitalina dio el
banderazo inicial del programa Conduce sin Alcohol Carretero. As a measure to reduce accidents on the roads surrounding the Federal District, the
capital's Public Security Ministry gave the go initial program without Alcohol Carter Drive.
El director de Aplicación de Programas Preventivos de la SSP, Othón Sánchez Cruz, señaló que el dispositivo se mantendrá en vigencia específicamente
durante dos fines de semana. The director of Preventive Programme Implementation of the SSP, Othon Sanchez Cruz, said the device will remain in effect
specifically for two weekends.
El operativo arrancó este viernes 9 de julio y se mantendrá el sábado 10 y domingo 11, para posteriormente ser reinstalado el viernes 16, sábado 17 y
domingo 18 de julio. The operation started on Friday 9 July and will continue on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11, later to be reinstated on Friday 16th,
Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th July.
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Funny David    (unless you are a jogger)
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mtgoat666
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i note that this thread of posts by haters of bikers and joggers appears to contain mostly posts by old guys with pot bellies perhaps a
partsan crowd that hasn't sat on a bike for a couple decades (your 1 mile trip on beach cruiser doesn't count)
anywho, not time to debate you old fat guys.
cheerio!
p.s. most joggers facing traffic can react plenty fast to avoid the periodic cars. sad you fat turds have forgotten what life was like before you had
snail-like reflexes
[Edited on 12-13-2010 by mtgoat666]
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elfbrewery
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Pompano -
Very good information and worthy caution. I too have biked PCH with the log trucks and find the Transpeninsular Highway much safer. A few of us in the
Mulege area enjoy biking (walkers and joggers, too) along the Bahia Concepcion and are well aware of the dangers. Our friends think we have a death
wish. We keep our eyes and ears alert, but also feel comfortable during the long gaps in passing traffic. Drivers in Baja are more accustomed to
looking out for animals in the road, broken down vehicles, road hazards, etc. so a person sharing the road walking, jogging, riding a bike is not a
surprising sight. And unlike the U.S., the drivers do not react with rage when we share the road with them. The truckers are really great. And I show
them my appreciation by pulling off the road where possible to avoid potential problems near curves or other tight places. With the right attitude and
defensive techniques, riding bike is no more dangerous than driving and a lot more pleasurable.
Having said all this, there are times to avoid the road. Some of these are: during the Baja 1000 rally week, during Semana Santa and extra caution
during February when a lot of caravans of RVs come down -- yikes! Gringos feel the highway is for vehicles only and don't really know how to drive
their rigs (or why would they be in a caravan??).
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elfbrewery
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Registered: 12-25-2006
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BTW, I didn't mean ALL gringos (silly me), I meant the ones who depend on others to do the exploring of the Baja for them.
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bajalera
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Useful info, Pompano.
Two things I liked about that miserable old road was that it was safe for driving at night as well as drinking by day. At speeds of 5 or 10 miles an
hour, you could see the really bad hazards in the glare of headlights in time to avoid them, and a Pacifico or four made the derive seem to go faster
and farther by day, when the few other vehicles on the road were cruising along at similar speeds.
\"Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest never happen at all. The conscientious historian will correct these defects.\" -
Mark Twain
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