Though my mother swears I was once a “sporty kid” (a clumsy one, but a sporty one nonetheless) today, I don’t consider myself the most outdoors-y of writers here at Yucatán Today. My editor, however, is one who glides into the office after having finished a marathon, a jog, or whatever runner’s lingo I don’t comprehend, but am very much impressed by. My assignment was to discover Mérida while on a bike, and though I hadn’t been on one in while, there’s that saying about bicycles and what not, and I’m still here to tell my story, so all in all, that’s a good sign. I can now tell you that I am very fond of cycling.
The Biciruta is a socially-driven program that started 13 years ago when Manuel Fuentes Alcocer, an avid cycling fan, became mayor of Mérida. It was the second bike route created in México and has now become a meeting point for families, tradition, and two-wheeled adventures.
There are three Bicirutas you can attend in Mérida. The most popular takes place every Sunday from 8 am to 2:30 pm. It begins at La Ermita de Santa Isabel, goes through the Centro Histórico, past the Catedral de San Ildefonso, and ends shortly after the Monumento a la Patria. There are several stands that offer bikes for rent, as well as a few companies that will just lend them to you free of charge. You are, of course, welcome to bring your own means of non-motorized transportation as well.
Saturdays from 4 to 8 pm, the Biciruta happens up north in Fraccionamiento Las Américas, and meets up at the Fut 7 Center. The nice people of the organizing committee will bring along bikes for you to borrow, or you can bring your own.
Also, on the first Saturday of each month, the Evening Biciruta takes center stage and allows you to tour Paseo de Montejo in the moonlight from 6 to 10 pm. If you’re not feeling a bike rental, you can always walk along this iconic avenue!
As I peddled down Paseo de Montejo in the cool weather Yucatán allows for a few weeks a year, I was able to appreciate the city in a refreshing, new way and discover that, maybe, I actually am a tiny bit outdoors-y after all. The Biciruta is the perfect outing that allows both the sporty, and the not-so-sporty to have fun and get some friend and family time in. Props to the all the families on those four-person bikes, it looks tough.
Esta entrada también está disponible en: ES
We are planning a trip to Merida after Feb. 2020. What are the musical, theatrical and/or entertainment to go/see?
Hello Margerie! Usually events in the city aren´t posted so much in advance, you should check back one or two weeks before your trip! Also, we post events here: https://yucatantoday.com/eventos/ Check out concerts at Palacio de la Música and El Coliseo. El Teatrito and La Rendija offer a wide variety of plays.