On the second and last Sunday of every month, Quito closes its main drag (the Avenida Amazonas) to all traffic but bikes.
Usually this city is not a bicycle friendly city, the traffic, the mountains, the pollution, etc. but on two days a month everything changes.
Suddenly everyone is on a bike, the city provides water stops along the main route, which extends from the south of Quito all the way to the airport in the north.
I “borrowed” a kid’s bike from a kid in the center of the Parque La Alemeda and rode all the way to the airport.
This is a great way to see Quito, you will pass through El Centro, the Mariscal Sucre, and Parque La Carolina all before watching a plane take off or land at the airport because the route goes right by the runway.
Everyone stops, drinks from their water bottle, watches one plane by the runway and then heads back.
I recommend this for tourists or expats alike. I did it two Sundays ago on Women’s day and it rocked.
I did return the bike.
-J Roland Kelly
