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!