Bypassing Mexico City/Vehicle

Driving down one of the main interstate highways in Mexico, the one
that runs through the middle of the country, forces the international
driver through a once/week restricted-driving area - based on
license-plate number. I think this is really ridiculous. I think it
is one of the faster routes to Chiapas/Oaxaca and points south, but I
avoid it, because there is no apparent way to circumnavigate the
restricted area - if you need to pass through the area on that one
particular, restricted day of the week. I know there are some back
roads to bypass the area, but that increases overall driving time.
It's as if greater Mexico City is the center of the world - which it is
not! The international driver wants to be able to quickly transit this
area, on whatever day of the week, but there is no autopista designed
for this purpose - from what I can tell.

Mexico City is the center of the universe for Mexico. It is one of the
largest cities in the world, and the center of Mexican government,
commerce, transportation, media, you name it. Mexico has a relatively
centralized government. The states do not have much taxing power, most
of their money comes from the Federal government. In the past, the PRI
party (particularly the President) basically appointed the state
governors and legislators. Mexico City gets special benefits in terms
of universities with minimal tuition, federal subsidies for subways,
etc. The PRI, like the communist party in the USSR, had a socialist
ideology that the government knew best, and that everything should be
controlled from the top down. Since the PRI party had so much power,
personified in the President with vast official and unofficial power,
all important decisions were taken in Mexico City rather than elsewhere.
I believe that the centralization in Mexico may date back to the
Spanish colonial government, which administered a vast area from Mexico
City.

In contrast, the USA has Washington DC as the center of government, NYC
as the center of finance and TV, Los Angeles as the center of movies,
and so on. The US states have much more autonomy than Mexican states,
the US president does not have as much power as the Mexican president
did, etc.

The above is not intended as a defense or criticism of Mexico or its
government, past or present. I am merely trying to explain why the
roads (and many other things) are the way that they are.

As best as I can tell, if you really want to bypass Mexico City, the
better roads are on the Gulf of Mexico side, but I will let others give
you specific advice.

Richard



wrote:
Driving down one of the main interstate highways in Mexico, the one
that runs through the middle of the country, forces the international
driver through a once/week restricted-driving area - based on
license-plate number. I think this is really ridiculous. I think it
is one of the faster routes to Chiapas/Oaxaca and points south, but I
avoid it, because there is no apparent way to circumnavigate the
restricted area - if you need to pass through the area on that one
particular, restricted day of the week. I know there are some back
roads to bypass the area, but that increases overall driving time.
It's as if greater Mexico City is the center of the world - which it is
not! The international driver wants to be able to quickly transit this
area, on whatever day of the week, but there is no autopista designed
for this purpose - from what I can tell.

Mexico City is the center of the universe for Mexico. It is one of the
largest cities in the world, and the center of Mexican government,
commerce, transportation, media, you name it. Mexico has a relatively
centralized government. The states do not have much taxing power, most
of their money comes from the Federal government. In the past, the PRI
party (particularly the President) basically appointed the state
governors and legislators. Mexico City gets special benefits in terms
of universities with minimal tuition, federal subsidies for subways,
etc. The PRI, like the communist party in the USSR, had a socialist
ideology that the government knew best, and that everything should be
controlled from the top down. Since the PRI party had so much power,
personified in the President with vast official and unofficial power,
all important decisions were taken in Mexico City rather than elsewhere.
I believe that the centralization in Mexico may date back to the
Spanish colonial government, which administered a vast area from Mexico
City.

In contrast, the USA has Washington DC as the center of government, NYC
as the center of finance and TV, Los Angeles as the center of movies,
and so on. The US states have much more autonomy than Mexican states,
the US president does not have as much power as the Mexican president
did, etc.

The above is not intended as a defense or criticism of Mexico or its
government, past or present. I am merely trying to explain why the
roads (and many other things) are the way that they are.

As best as I can tell, if you really want to bypass Mexico City, the
better roads are on the Gulf of Mexico side, but I will let others give
you specific advice.

Richard



wrote:
Driving down one of the main interstate highways in Mexico, the one
that runs through the middle of the country, forces the international
driver through a once/week restricted-driving area - based on
license-plate number. I think this is really ridiculous. I think it
is one of the faster routes to Chiapas/Oaxaca and points south, but I
avoid it, because there is no apparent way to circumnavigate the
restricted area - if you need to pass through the area on that one
particular, restricted day of the week. I know there are some back
roads to bypass the area, but that increases overall driving time.
It's as if greater Mexico City is the center of the world - which it is
not! The international driver wants to be able to quickly transit this
area, on whatever day of the week, but there is no autopista designed
for this purpose - from what I can tell.

Mexico City is the center of the universe for Mexico. It is one of the
largest cities in the world, and the center of Mexican government,
commerce, transportation, media, you name it. Mexico has a relatively
centralized government. The states do not have much taxing power, most
of their money comes from the Federal government. In the past, the PRI
party (particularly the President) basically appointed the state
governors and legislators. Mexico City gets special benefits in terms
of universities with minimal tuition, federal subsidies for subways,
etc. The PRI, like the communist party in the USSR, had a socialist
ideology that the government knew best, and that everything should be
controlled from the top down. Since the PRI party had so much power,
personified in the President with vast official and unofficial power,
all important decisions were taken in Mexico City rather than elsewhere.
I believe that the centralization in Mexico may date back to the
Spanish colonial government, which administered a vast area from Mexico
City.

In contrast, the USA has Washington DC as the center of government, NYC
as the center of finance and TV, Los Angeles as the center of movies,
and so on. The US states have much more autonomy than Mexican states,
the US president does not have as much power as the Mexican president
did, etc.

The above is not intended as a defense or criticism of Mexico or its
government, past or present. I am merely trying to explain why the
roads (and many other things) are the way that they are.

As best as I can tell, if you really want to bypass Mexico City, the
better roads are on the Gulf of Mexico side, but I will let others give
you specific advice.

Richard



wrote:
Driving down one of the main interstate highways in Mexico, the one
that runs through the middle of the country, forces the international
driver through a once/week restricted-driving area - based on
license-plate number. I think this is really ridiculous. I think it
is one of the faster routes to Chiapas/Oaxaca and points south, but I
avoid it, because there is no apparent way to circumnavigate the
restricted area - if you need to pass through the area on that one
particular, restricted day of the week. I know there are some back
roads to bypass the area, but that increases overall driving time.
It's as if greater Mexico City is the center of the world - which it is
not! The international driver wants to be able to quickly transit this
area, on whatever day of the week, but there is no autopista designed
for this purpose - from what I can tell.

Did I read you right? Did you say that new automobiles aren't bound by
the once/week driving restriction? Can you point me to an official
page on the internet that confirms this? I'll take a look at the URL
you listed to see if there is any mention there.

wrote in message
ups.com...
Driving down one of the main interstate highways in Mexico, the one
that runs through the middle of the country, forces the international
driver through a once/week restricted-driving area - based on
license-plate number. I think this is really ridiculous. I think it
is one of the faster routes to Chiapas/Oaxaca and points south, but I
avoid it, because there is no apparent way to circumnavigate the
restricted area - if you need to pass through the area on that one
particular, restricted day of the week. I know there are some back
roads to bypass the area, but that increases overall driving time.
It's as if greater Mexico City is the center of the world - which it is
not! The international driver wants to be able to quickly transit this
area, on whatever day of the week, but there is no autopista designed
for this purpose - from what I can tell.

Well, Mexico City is the largest city on Earth, with regard to population,
so that could qualify it as the "center of the world". Its certainly
important to Mexicans. You are correct, there really isn't an outer loop
around the city, you must drive through it. I would recommend driving
through it very early in the morning, like 2:00 AM. There will be much less
traffic at this time

wrote in message
ups.com...
Driving down one of the main interstate highways in Mexico, the one
that runs through the middle of the country, forces the international
driver through a once/week restricted-driving area - based on
license-plate number. I think this is really ridiculous. I think it
is one of the faster routes to Chiapas/Oaxaca and points south, but I
avoid it, because there is no apparent way to circumnavigate the
restricted area - if you need to pass through the area on that one
particular, restricted day of the week. I know there are some back
roads to bypass the area, but that increases overall driving time.
It's as if greater Mexico City is the center of the world - which it is
not! The international driver wants to be able to quickly transit this
area, on whatever day of the week, but there is no autopista designed
for this purpose - from what I can tell.

Well, Mexico City is the largest city on Earth, with regard to population,
so that could qualify it as the "center of the world". Its certainly
important to Mexicans. You are correct, there really isn't an outer loop
around the city, you must drive through it. I would recommend driving
through it very early in the morning, like 2:00 AM. There will be much less
traffic at this time

wrote in message
ups.com...
Driving down one of the main interstate highways in Mexico, the one
that runs through the middle of the country, forces the international
driver through a once/week restricted-driving area - based on
license-plate number. I think this is really ridiculous. I think it
is one of the faster routes to Chiapas/Oaxaca and points south, but I
avoid it, because there is no apparent way to circumnavigate the
restricted area - if you need to pass through the area on that one
particular, restricted day of the week. I know there are some back
roads to bypass the area, but that increases overall driving time.
It's as if greater Mexico City is the center of the world - which it is
not! The international driver wants to be able to quickly transit this
area, on whatever day of the week, but there is no autopista designed
for this purpose - from what I can tell.

Well, Mexico City is the largest city on Earth, with regard to population,
so that could qualify it as the "center of the world". Its certainly
important to Mexicans. You are correct, there really isn't an outer loop
around the city, you must drive through it. I would recommend driving
through it very early in the morning, like 2:00 AM. There will be much less
traffic at this time

If you're coming from the eastern half of the US there is no need to go
through the DF. Take the gulf coast highway to Acayucan , then the trans
Isthmus hwy (Hwy 185) to Oaxaca and Chiapas. It can be done in a bit over
two days without driving at night.

As for entering the DF with the wrong plate on the wrong day, we did it
last trip. Avoided getting impounded by paying a $100 dollar bribe, then
removing our plates and driving the rest of the way through the city with no
plates at all. We carried with us a "secret code" for the other police along
the route out of town, given us by the officer that stopped us. He swore
that the other officers would recognize it, and let us pass. We were not
stopped for the rest of the trip through the city, so I can't say whether or
not it would have worked. But paying the mordida saved us two days of
hassle, as well as the cost of towing, impound, and a hotel in the city. It
was well worth it. But we wont make that mistake again. Howard

On 12 Dec 2004 11:41:35 -0800, wrote:

Driving down one of the main interstate highways in Mexico, the one
that runs through the middle of the country, forces the international
driver through a once/week restricted-driving area - based on
license-plate number. I think this is really ridiculous. I think it
is one of the faster routes to Chiapas/Oaxaca and points south, but I
avoid it, because there is no apparent way to circumnavigate the
restricted area - if you need to pass through the area on that one
particular, restricted day of the week. I know there are some back
roads to bypass the area, but that increases overall driving time.
It's as if greater Mexico City is the center of the world - which it is
not! The international driver wants to be able to quickly transit this
area, on whatever day of the week, but there is no autopista designed
for this purpose - from what I can tell.

Not sure what you're talking about, because according to pg. 28 of my
Guia Roji (2002 edition) it's perfectly possible to drive around the
D.F.
There are autopistas that take you around the North and East side and
then SE towards Puebla.