Vía Recreactiva: Car Free Sunday Guadalajara Bicycle Tour
While Guadalajara is still on its way to developing a culture of driving that is safe and courteous for cyclists, Sundays are for everyone. On Sundays huge swaths of the city are closed to cars and replaced with bicycles, skateboards, joggers and all forms of outdoor recreation. The Vía Recreactiva connects the municipalities of Zapopan, Guadalajara, and Tlaquepaque with over 20 miles of principal avenues that are closed to vehicles and open only to human and pet traffic.
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Along the way you will find activities for the whole family including dance lessons, guided tours, concerts, games and even rodeo exhibitions. There are skateboarders that congregate near the Glorieta Minerva and Chapultepec. The restaurants and business along the route cater to the bike traffic and usually have safe places to lock up your bike and lots of outdoor seating.
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The coolest section of the Vía Recreactiva is along Avenida Vallarta from the Glorieta Minerva to downtown. This was the millionaire’s row of the last century and the architecture is simple breathtaking as you pass under the Arcos Vallarta and next to numerous cathedrals. You get a much better perspective of the evolution of the city pedaling along Avenida Vallarta rather than driving.
Guadalajara has a great bicycle culture with lots of bike shops selling mountain bikes, fixies, lowriders you name it. If you are only in town for a short time it might be better to rent a bike rather than buy one. The Mi Bici program rents bikes all over town with just a credit card as deposit. The bicycles are simple but all in good conditions with 3 gears which is all you need for cruising around Guadalajara.
