Isla Mujeres Bike Lane Still Unbuilt Despite Mayor’s 2023 Promise

Tourists on bicycles ride through traffic in Isla Mujeres without a dedicated cycle lane

Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo — A bike lane that Mayor Atenea Gómez announced in 2023 has yet to be built, according to local bike rental operators who say thousands of tourists are being put at risk.

The operators, Baltazar Robles, Nicolás Cáceres and Abelardo Can, said at least 20,000 visitors a year prefer to explore the island by bicycle and are exposed to accidents due to heavy traffic. They demanded the project be revived to guarantee tourist safety.

The planned route was to run from Hacienda Mundaca along the southern circuit and back past the cemetery in the La Gloria neighborhood. Construction was expected to begin in May 2023 but never started.

“We want to know what caused the cancellation,” Robles said. “It was a great idea to give local and foreign cyclists a dedicated space, as well as skateboarders.”

Cáceres also called for resuming a proposed mobility study with the participation of the Quintana Roo Mobility Institute (Imoveqroo), which was announced the same year. Abelardo Can asked the island’s transportation director, Alejandra Peniche Hernández, to explain the delays.

The operators estimate that at least 50 visitors use bicycles daily, adding up to between 18,000 and 20,000 riders this year. They said at least one cycling accident occurs every week, and negative comments on social media about the difficulties have led some tourists to take buses or walk instead.

Motorcycle rental operators also agreed and urged authorities to carry out the pending mobility study as a way to ease road congestion in the near future.

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By Ana Reyes

Ana Reyes covers environmental policy, conservation initiatives, infrastructure projects, and political developments across the Yucatán Peninsula for Riviera Maya News & Events. She reports on issues from sargassum management and reef conservation to the Maya Train, coastal development, and state and federal policy affecting Quintana Roo and the broader peninsula.Ana has covered environmental and political news since 2023, tracking key developments in Mexico's environmental regulations, coral reef protection, coastal zone management, and the intersection of tourism development with conservation efforts. Her reporting spans from Cancun's hotel zone to the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve and the culturally significant regions of the Yucatán interior.Ana is fluent in English and Spanish, and draws from a wide range of sources including government environmental agencies, conservation organizations, academic researchers, and local community leaders to provide balanced, well-sourced coverage. She is particularly focused on how environmental policy decisions affect the daily lives of residents and the long-term sustainability of the region.For story tips: ana@rivieramayanews.mx