Anyone know if the coastal highway from Playa del Carmen to Akumal is user friendly (safe..) for bike riding? Is there room for a bike lane of sorts?

I think it would be possible but potentially very risky. The road is under major construction right now in different areas down there so it is a 2 lane not a 4 lane. If you're familiar with the highway down there you know that the typical 2 lane (one northbound, one southbound) also includes a rather large shoulder almost as big as another lane. So it is more like a lane and 3/4 going each way. That may sound perfect for biking, having such a large and stable shoulder to ride but, the shoulder is actually used very frequently for slower cars to use while the faster cars rip past them and the customary method of making a left turn across traffic is to put your left turn signal on (or 4 ways) and bear to the right onto the shoulder and stop and wait until both north and south lanes are clear and then make your turn from the shoulder across the entire highway.

some photos of the area shown here :
http://www.lcupryk.za.pl/bahrivman/bahcoba.htm
or
http://www.lcupryk.za.pl/bahrivman/coba.htm
suerte

LynnMN wrote:Anyone know if the coastal highway from Playa del Carmen to Akumal is user friendly (safe..) for bike riding? Is there room for a bike lane of sorts?

Well, it is possible to ride a bike on the road. Usually there are a number of locals either walking and some riding bikes. That being said I would say it's a bit of a risky proposition.

Even with the recent upgrades to the road there can be a lot of traffic including trucks on the road.

Wear "bright" colors, a helmet and perhaps even have a flashing light on the front and back of the bike so people are more likely to see you.