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road safety in Belize

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maria22
  1/20/2018 12:14 EST

Hello members
I would to know how safe are Belize roads if I want to travel by bicycle within Cayo to various Mayan places and other tourist locations of historical importance?

I am not expecting specifically marked space for bicycles. But is it safe to use bicycles on rural and urban roads, main roads and highways?

How safe it is to start in the morning to a tourist attraction by bike in the morning and to return at 5pm in the evening by same route? Any bandits on the street?

Thanks for any info

5allan1
  1/20/2018 13:07 EST

It is unsafe to drive on Belize roads on a bicycle. Belize roads are crap being of high crowned characteristics increasing roll over potential and no shoulders. The drivers are inattentive, often drunk and poorly instructed.
There are several serious accidents /day on average countrywide often serious or fatal.

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CayeCaulker4Me
  1/20/2018 13:42 EST

Hello Maria,

I hope by now you understand that any advice provided by Dr. Allan5 is "tainted" and wholly one sided.

We don't live on the mainland, so I cannot attest to the safety of biking on Belize roads. However, there are numerous regular posters on here who actually live in mainland Belize and have current experience in this area, who will hopefully provide USEFUL information regarding your inquiry. (Terrific, BradInBelize, Ken, etc.)

All the best in your research and investigation into your potential move.

waljoa
  1/20/2018 14:12 EST

As usual Alan is very behind in his knowledge A lot of people bike regularly and do not have problems but drivers do as most bikers have no knowledge or concern about safety. If you exercise reasonable safety precautions you should be fine

5allan1
  1/20/2018 14:28 EST

Yes waljoa all true unless you get run over by a vehicle crossing over the median or rammed from behind. It happens.Loose rocks are also quite hazardous because they are thrown by tires running over them.
On two occasions I had the pleasure of removing pieces of road from a cyclists a55 at the clinic. Think about it.

CayeCaulker4Me
  1/20/2018 16:15 EST

So Dr. A's advice to everyone:

If there is a chance, however remote, that you might become injured participating in an activity, no matter how remote that chance might be, STAY PUT IN YOUR HOME AND DO NOT LEAVE! NEVER GO OUTSIDE, YOU COULD GET HURT!!!

The SKY is FALLING, The SKY is FALLING!!!

This is all based on the fact that Dr. A had to treat 2 people, count them TWO WHOLE PEOPLE, for injuries incurred while biking in Belize. And, of course, no person has EVER been injured while riding a bike in Mexico,. so by all means, move to Mexico because you can ride your bike in Mexico and be GUARANTEED not to be injured (apparently because there are no loose stones/rocks on Mexican roads, there are no drunk drivers in Mexico, ALL the roads in Mexico are smooth, well paved and without any imperfections that might cause a bicyclist problems, ALL automobile drivers in Mexico are PERFECT and never take their eyes off the road, or are EVER distracted while driving, etc., etc., etc yadda, yadda, yadda)....Dr, A says so!!!

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waljoa
  1/20/2018 16:24 EST

So Allen you are saying nobody anywhere should ever ride a bike as what you describe occurs wherever bikes are ridden except bicycle paths ??

5allan1
  1/20/2018 16:46 EST

@waljoa: Even in NA bikes are best left to paths and designated lanes on major roadways. Certainly not in Belize, Mexico or any third world poorly regulated country. Death waits for us all. Why speed it up? Especially in Belize which has no proper trauma/ER care and 911 is a serious joke,

bobbyveee
  1/20/2018 17:41 EST

There is no way of enforcing speed limits in Belize and large trucks drive fast and take up most of their side of the road, most cyclists stick to riding in the towns , i most certainly wouldnt ride a bike on the open road, Just have a look at what its like when you get to Belize, make your own decision,.The standard of driving is pretty awful.

toddwinston
  1/20/2018 17:47 EST

...my god. We are from Toronto where there are sometimes a few pedestrians killed a day trying to cross an intersection. Roads in Belize are so full of pot holes that no one can even drive that fast. I have been in Corozal Town the last month with my 6 and 7 year olds plus my disabled wife. S0mehow we have manage to avoid getting hurt crossing the street (where cars are going like max 40KM)....
We decided to go to Caye Caulker for the first time this year. There was more danger here of my kids getting hit by a bike or golf cart because of how busy it is; and also my kids are country bumpkins and don't know how to look both ways.
As an adult I am lucky I know how to look both ways. I do it for them. Allan if you come back to Belize I can teach you how to look both ways the same time I am teaching my kids. (ha, ha, written while laughing)

toddwinston
  1/20/2018 17:47 EST

...my god. We are from Toronto where there are sometimes a few pedestrians killed a day trying to cross an intersection. Roads in Belize are so full of pot holes that no one can even drive that fast. I have been in Corozal Town the last month with my 6 and 7 year olds plus my disabled wife. S0mehow we have manage to avoid getting hurt crossing the street (where cars are going like max 40KM)....
We decided to go to Caye Caulker for the first time this year. There was more danger here of my kids getting hit by a bike or golf cart because of how busy it is; and also my kids are country bumpkins and don't know how to look both ways.
As an adult I am lucky I know how to look both ways. I do it for them. Allan if you come back to Belize I can teach you how to look both ways the same time I am teaching my kids. (ha, ha, written while laughing)

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toddwinston
  1/20/2018 17:47 EST

...my god. We are from Toronto where there are sometimes a few pedestrians killed a day trying to cross an intersection. Roads in Belize are so full of pot holes that no one can even drive that fast. I have been in Corozal Town the last month with my 6 and 7 year olds plus my disabled wife. S0mehow we have manage to avoid getting hurt crossing the street (where cars are going like max 40KM)....
We decided to go to Caye Caulker for the first time this year. There was more danger here of my kids getting hit by a bike or golf cart because of how busy it is; and also my kids are country bumpkins and don't know how to look both ways.
As an adult I am lucky I know how to look both ways. I do it for them. Allan if you come back to Belize I can teach you how to look both ways the same time I am teaching my kids. (ha, ha, written while laughing)

Vallew11
  1/20/2018 20:02 EST

While we were in Belize last month for 2 weeks, we saw SO many people riding bikes (with the crazy drivers) on he roads. Yes the roads are awful, but after observing for a week, we saw that bikes actually had the advantage because they could maneuver around the massive holes in the roads and zipped in and out of cars. They are crazy drivers no question, but they are also very used to bikes always being present on the streets at the same time. You can ask all the questions in the world in this forum and there is always a guarantee that the 2 regulars will give you the utmost horrible scenario you could ever come away with while others will give a more realistic answer. Bottom line is you need to experience for yourself and make your own conclusions.

terrific
  1/21/2018 01:42 EST

Cayo district is very hilly so you do need strong legs but Cycling is popular as a means of transport and as a sport. At the weekend in that district you will see many cycling clubs out for a run. There are several big organised cycling events that attract international riders. during the year.Traffic is always a concern to a cyclist wherever you are, but there are very few hard shoulder areas and some main roads do have "Frilly edges" and most have sleeping policemen (speed humps) of differing designs so they do work at slowing traffic, You ask about cycling to ruins and tourist attractions, few of these are on main roads and most a trek into more jungle areas, The Zoo is on the main road but its a long hilly ride from San Ignatio area. Don't be put off if it is what you want to do. You will soon decide if you still think it a good idea or not once you get here. Just remember to bring a good stock of puncture repair kits.

terrific
  1/21/2018 02:04 EST

I just reread your original post. You list 4 different kinds of roads. Unfortunately Belize only has about 4 main "highway" roads these are single lane hopefully with road markings. and frequent Sometimes unmarked or mismarked speed bumps. Within towns and some of the larger villages there will be paved roads, beyond that the rural roads range from reasonably flat dirt tracks to the equivalent of ploughed fields. Marl is a popular road surface but it is awful to ride a bike or Trike on.
In the Wet season those dirt roads get ripped up by trucks when they are wet and its a quagmire of mud ridges and water,then the fierce sun rapidly dries out the mud leaving something akin to small concrete hills and dips until the rain returns.
In the rainy season one of the recurring sites is of the "tar trucks" which are the trucks that ride up and down those 4 main roads. truck stops a man jumps off with his bucket in hand and drops ldollops of tar into biggest of the pot holes, It is a never ending task as often
this repair ripped out by the next big truck following behind. I love Belize warts and all, the roads in the rainy season are definately one of those warts.

maria22
  1/21/2018 14:00 EST

well, it is not all bad for a country like Belize. Definitely it is not a first world country. Again, there are issues in living in first world. As a woman with Spanish/ humble / village background - for me it is fine. My hubby needs to tune in. Kids may not like after a few days I think.

And then you rightly pointed on doing biking, yes it is my obsession. Roads and distractions are fine, but concerned about crime and bandits.

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