Mexico City, Day 8 - Sunday

I get out and check out one of the coolest programs in a big city ever. CDMX closes their busiest street from 8am to 2pm on Sundays to encourage people to be physically active.

Mexico City, Paseo de la Reforma

On Friday Night, Ramon told me that they close the Paseo de La Reforma every Sunday for bicycles only. I couldn't believe it, but (according to my Garmin) they do in fact, close one off the biggest, busiest streets in Mexico City from 8am until 2:00PM (it takes them 40 minutes to close down the event).  

A selfie on the street with bikes and joggers behind me.

The street is closed to traffic, and only joggers, bicyclists, rollerblades, skate boarders, and anyone moving by their own power are allowed on the street.  I headed over at 10:30AM to check it out.

The entire experience was incredible.  According to this website, Lonely Planet, and WikiPedia the program started in 2007.  It is officially called Muévete en Bici. Basically, move yourself on a bike.  Between 20,000 to 80,000 people every weekend participate.  The city closes off an entire network of 37 KM of roads.  The 7.25-mile segment I road (about 11 KM) was ONE direction. I rode the length of the road both ways and took the detour to the historic city center. 

A picture of my trusty Brompton against the backdrop of the main plaza in CMDX

I also jetted over to LuLu Lemon - shirts are 50% more expensive in CDMX, so no bargains there.  

I forgot that CDMX is at an altitude of 7,500 feet and when I got home after riding about 20 miles, I was GASSED.

The Start

The main track began just west of the National Auditorium and went for 7ish Miles until the Basilica de Guadalupe.

The other end of La Reforma where the closed streets end, the Basillica de Guadelupe.

I listened to Spanish Podcasts the entire time, but a strange thing started to happen.  For the first time in my life, I could begin to clearly make out words spoken by other people in Spanish. What's more, the Podcasts seemed simple in comparison to the Spanish I was trying to hear.