Driving and finding places
Driving and finding places
Streets are laid out on a grid system
Streets are laid out on a grid system
- Avenidas
- Avenidas (avenues) run parallel to the length of the island "north - south"
- Avenida Rafael E. Melgar, or "el Malecón", runs along the waterfront
- Avenidas are numbered by 5's (5th, 10th, 15th, etc.) counting away from Av. Melgar
- Most are one-way in alternating directions
- Large Avenidas that are divided are two-way
- Some large divided Avenidas have "special" names instead of numbers:
- Avenida Pedro Joaquin Coldwell = 30a Avenida
- Avenida 8 de Octubre = 65a Avenida
- Avenidas (avenues) run parallel to the length of the island "north - south"
- Calles
- Calles (streets) run across the island "east - west"
- Calles are numbered with odd numbers counting south from Av. Benito Juárez
- Calles are numbered with even numbers counting north from Av. Benito Juárez
- Calle Dr. Adolfo Rosado Salas is between Calle 1 Sur and Calle 3 Sur
- Most are one-way in alternating directions
- The large divided Calles are two-way
- Some large Calles have "special" names instead of numbers (and are called Avenidas!):
- Avenida Andrés Quintana Roo = Calle 11 Sur
- Avenida Xel-Ha = Calle 15 Sur
- Calles (streets) run across the island "east - west"
Avenida Benito Juárez, the Transversal highway
Avenida Benito Juárez, the Transversal highway
- Divides Norte and Sur
- Referred to as Avenida Benito Juárez "in town"
- Referred to as Carretera Transversal outside of town
- One-way from Melgar to Coldwell (30), two-way east of there
Carretera Costera Sur
Carretera Costera Sur
- Southern Coastal Highway
- What Avenida Rafael E. Melgar turns into south of town
Carretera San Juan
Carretera San Juan
- San Juan (Northern Coastal) Highway
- What Avenida Rafael E. Melgar turns into north of town
North and South
North and South
- Streets are specified as being Norte (Nte) if they're north of Avenida Benito Juárez
- Streets are specified as being Sur if they're south of Avenida Benito Juárez
Bis and C
Bis and C
- Bis mean repeated, and these streets fall between other numbers
- C streets exist in some places to make up for a further lack of street numbers
- For example, there's 15a Avenida Sur, 15a Avenida Bis Sur, and 15a Avenida Bis C Sur
"Funky" Streets
"Funky" Streets
- Here and there, seemingly at random, named streets appear between the numbered ones or the regular numbering system isn't followed
- In some areas the alternation of one-way directions isn't followed, especially around parks and schools
- Google Maps typically has these correct (or nearly so)
Addresses follow conventions different from north of the border
Addresses follow conventions different from north of the border
- Street numbers are inconsistent and are often not used even when they are assigned
- Quite a few places officially have no number at all - s/n means "sin número", or "without a number"
- Addresses are often specified as being on a street between two others or at the corner of another one
- con = with or at, entre = between, esquina = (at the) corner (of), frente = across from
- Correct addresses always include the Colonia (neighborhood)
Parking
Parking
- Red-painted curbs mean "No Parking" and tickets are likely
- A sign on a post or painted on the road showing an E in a slashed circle also marks "No Parking"
- "No Estacionarse" painted on a wall or gate denotes a private entry where you should not park
- "Se Usará Grúa" means "Tow-away Zone". They mean it.
- "Se Ponchan Llantas Gratis" means "We Puncture Tires for Free". Don't block driveways!
- Even if not marked, don't block people's or businesses' driveways
- A parking violation will result in removal of your license plate to ensure you pay up
- On the waterfront, wheel-locking boots are applied with enthusiasm
- Public parking lots (Estacionamiento Público) are plentiful and cheap
- Parking lots typically cost 10-15 pesos an hour
- Parking lots do close at night, so be sure you know when to return for your car - the last ferry arrives after nearby parking lots are closed for the night!