Buses and Bikes in the Baja
 

Thanks for the replies to an earlier post about the Baja (esp Vik).
Now In San Diego and trying to sort out transport to Santa Rosalia.
Spoke to a girl at the ABC bus counter in TJ this morning who said all bikes had to be boxed, no exceptions.
Anyone have any experience of this? Are boxes necessary? Any idea on how to find a bike box in TJ?
Any help, as always, much appreciate.
Paul
http://www.twofortheroad.info

I took my bike on ABC buses twice and they were not boxed. I'd try talking to someone else. Be exceptionally polite and let them know how much they'd be helping you out by taking your bike unboxed.

My experience with ABC buses in Baja have been great, friendly staff, good drivers and they took decent care of my bike & panniers.

Glad I could be of help. Good luck on your trip!

Thanks for that Vik. Spoke very politely to the staff and got them on the bus with wheels and pedals in another bag. Now in San Ignacio and first day cycling in Mexico proper to Santa Rosalia tomorrow. Looking forward to it. Will probably jump on a bus again from Loreto to La Paz, and then cycle down West Coast to Cabo
Thanks again,
Paul
http://www.twofortheroad.info

We are heading to Baja in January and planning to bus from Tijuana to Ensenada. We are hoping to just show up with our bikes (we have a BOB trailer too?!)...and talk politely of course...however our Spanish isn't so great!! We're hoping it will work out, glad to hear it did for you!

That's great Paul. Folks in Baja are super nice - a smile and being polite go long way. Have an awesome time. Eat a few tacos and drink a few beers for me...:D


I'd suggest you don't go to the main TJ bus station - which is a pain to get to on two wheels and where things are a whole lot more "official". ABC bus lines has a small "outpost" near the border and there are buses leaving there fairly frequently for Ensenada. They'll be a lot more chilled out about your bikes and trailers at the "outpost".

Right after you cross the border at TJ [in most cases nobody will even speak to you, you'll just ride into Mexico], grab your tourist card at a kiosk immediately to the right when you cross [you'll have to take it a few doors down to pay the ~$20 fee at a small bank kiosk and walk it back to immigration for a stamp], then ride into TJ and right away ask someone for the ABC depot. The ride from the border to the ABC depot is less than 4mins on a bike.:D

If nothing else works, you could always slip the driver a mordida (bribe). Take him aside and say something like this:

¿Sería posible subir la bici sin caja si le diera una propina? La verdad es que no tengo caja y necesito estar en La Paz cuanto antes.

Pull a fiver (or the equivalent in pesos) out of your pocket and show it to him. I hate to sound cynical, but I lived in Tijuana for a couple of years and I've travelled extensively in Mexico, so I know how their system works. ;)

Thanks for the info! We were thinking we'd leave from the border bus station so this confirms it!!