Bike Quito - Ciclopaseo & more

BIKE-BIKE-BIKE in QUITO!

Like to ride bike?  Want to join a group road ride?  Prefer mountain biking to road biking?
Quito has that and more.

Quito’s bike scene is thriving – and while the roads are not as smooth as we’re used to and the bike lanes less prevalent than NW riders have become accustomed - the enthusiasm for cycling in Quito is contagious.  Hardly a day goes by without an article and photo of a cycling event in the cities’ main paper – El Comercio.

Every Sunday, a main thoroughfare in Quito (Avenue de los Amazonas) is completely closed to cars from 6:00am – 2:00pm.  Not only is the road closed, there are aid stations providing for repairs and fluids, policemen and women monitoring crossings and live music and entertainment are common place at the old airport. 

Sculptures at the old Quito Airport - now part of Parque Bicentenario

A little help  from some kind  Ecuatorianos when fixing rental bikes~

Turn into Parque Bicentenario and you're sure to be entertained and fed!

The first Ciclopaseo in Quito took place in April 2003 when the path was only 9.5 km and 3,000 people participated. At that point, Ciclopaseos were only held on the last Sunday of every month.  But the event grew in popularity. In six months the route grew to 20 km with 25,000 participants.

Now every Sunday between 50 000 and 70 000 people participate in this weekly “paseo” on wheels!  Currently, the route is 50+K round trip, through the heart of El Centro (historic Old Town) south to Quitumbe and north to the old airport and Parque Bicentenario.  

It's a bicycle!  It's an elliptical trainer! - I love it!

While it’s called “Ciclopaseo” the users include walkers, joggers, roller-bladers, young children learning to ride with training wheels, young lovers riding double, and dogs - plenty of dogs.

We’ve seen dogs on leashes, dogs in front baskets, dogs in backpacks, dogs, dogs, dogs.  Reminds one of the children’s book: “Go Dogs Go!”  Thankfully, we have never seen them unleashed!

A great way to experience El Centro

The 'quinde' walk :-)

70K group ride for Quito Days

Commuting by bicycle is done in Quito – at one’s own risk.  Having a weekly cycling event will hopefully encourage more user-friendly roads and help combat the many cars and less than adequate infrastructure for the current traffic in this historic city built within the Andes.

We’ve been participating in the Ciclopaseo from August through December and plan to continue throughout our "Year of Adventure" in Ecuador!

Stairways to Heaven - in Quito

Stairways to Heaven~Quito

When on foot, it’s hard – maybe even IMPOSSIBLE- to walk any distance in the city of Quito without interacting with stairways.  Okay, that's a stretch.  They can be avoided by walking further or hailing a cab.  But if a person enjoys surprises; likes walking away from traffic; or wants more of a workout; TAKE THE STEPS!
Here in the barrio of Guapulo, the multitude of stairways are a daily reality.

Some are adorned with graffiti, some are festooned with wild, blossoming plants, some are crumbled and eroded; most become ‘water features’ during afternoon downpours….

ALL are steep, ALL have irregular tread heights, ALL improve health and fitness, ALL are interesting~

 The daily grind:  This picture and the one below, show only 1/3 of the 253 steps from our casita to the street above. Like roads, stairways have gutters and drainage ditches.
















Picture below is looking down into Guapulo and the way home for us.

 Hillsides are so steep, it's very common for slides to go over the stairway, where the debris remains for ?????

Can you see the faces of the  "Guardians of the Stairway"?

 

(L) These steps are so steep and long, it's not possible to get a pic of the entire length.  Students use these daily, walking to and from school in their uniforms.

Crumbled they may be; but that's the 'short cut' home for some

Climbing the metal steps of the Basilica del Voto Nacional.  Could we do this  in the USA??

 ( Above R) Steps connect roadways and allow one to get from Point A to Point B without walking along the roadsides where sidewalks may be in short supply.

 (Above L) Steps up to Parque Ichimbia overlooking Old Town are in great shape. (El Centro)

Discovering new routes via Stairway Shortcuts makes each and every day in this incredible city an aventura nueva!!