Motorcycle Groups Seek Designated Riding Areas in Playa del Carmen to Avoid Crackdowns

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Motorcycle associations are negotiating with municipal officials to establish designated, remote areas for organized group rides before tensions escalate as they did in nearby Cancún.

Samuel Gómez, a member of the Motociclistas Solidarios association, said their meetings with city council members have addressed proposed reforms to the Traffic Regulations that would formalize these activities.

However, the state government’s plan to standardize traffic regulations across all municipalities has stalled these local modifications.

While that issue remains unresolved, Gómez noted that the Traffic Department will soon begin enforcing an existing regulation that prohibits modifications to exhaust systems and mandates that noise levels cannot be excessive.

To regulate this, officers will likely check decibel levels based on motorcycle engine size.

Seeking Middle Ground

Gómez said the situation in Cancún highlights the need for proper riding spaces before the issue becomes a social conflict.

“It’s understandable that residents want to rest, but we also need to consider that these rides involve young people seeking recreational spaces,” he commented.

He argued that young people will continue organizing rides, and initiating a crackdown similar to Cancún’s approach is undesirable.

“There, even rides with just six people can lead to everyone being detained, including minors riding as passengers,” he claimed.

The preferable solution, he suggested, is finding a remote location like the areas around the Unidad Riviera Maya that were previously considered.

“In Playa del Carmen, there were negotiations to find a space, but this was suspended,” he revealed. “We hope the General Secretariat resumes this dialogue to identify suitable remote areas.”