Mexican motorways

Photographer: Tim Malloch
From: Tantoyuca (Mexico) to Scottsdale, Phoenix, Arizona (United States)

Mexican motorways

Took this whilst riding through the "Zone of Silence" in northern Mexico. Actually the toll booth operators were very helpful and simply waved me around the booth. If you cross the scales near the booth then the bicycle registers and then you have problems. On two sections I had to pay to ride on motorways. At first I was told that I was not allowed to ride on them for safety reasons and then when I said I was prepared to pay these concerns evaporated and I was told to proceed with caution. Why was I prepared to pay? Basically because the free roads that run next to the motorways are very busy, full of trucks that don't want to pay the toll and don't have a shoulder. In contrast the motorways are in good condition, have a lovely wide shoulder and are empty. Which seems to suggest that the correct economic incentives are not being applied. 5 minutes after reluctantly paying the toll I met a Mexican guy on a bike who told me rode on the motorway everyday without paying. A bit annoying.