Please explain new border crossing
Okay guys please explain what's going on with the new border crossing. Last visit to Tijuana was in May. What's this PedWest & PedEast crossing? Please simplify the directions. I usually park at the Border Station Parking lot right off the Camino De La please exit so where should I cross? PedEast or PedWest? Going into Mexico is the same right? Pass Mc Donalds on your left alongside the trolley, quick left then the alley into building? Anything change going into MX?
This new crossing you guys are referring to is when you're returning & crossing back through the USA CBP passport checkpoint right? So where would I go differently from previous after getting dropped off at the taxi pick-up / drop-off area? Taxi still drops you off in the same area correct?
I am making a visit next week so would like to know what has changed? I usually cross back early morning 1-2 AM so would not want to get lost. Thank you in advance for any helpful info!
2 photos
Walking from and to the border without taking a cab
Last Thursday I had a chance to visit TJ around noon. It was also a full-moon night so I decided to take a chance not to take a cab.
I arrived at PedEast around 1:00 PM. There were a lot of day visitors around that time so I was in line for at least 30 minutes before arriving at one of the Mexican custom stations.
As I got out of there I walked past all the cabs waiting to pick up customers, crossed the bridge above the moving traffic (which was heading back to the US), and arrived at Plaza Viva Tijuana at the other side.
Here I walked across another bridge over TJ River, following the pedestrian path to the Arch landmark, and on to HK. Note that haft way across this bridge is the entrance of the provisional walkway to PedWest (back to the US). Mexican police stations were visible around this area although they didn't appear to be well manned if at all.
On my way back around 7:30 PM I was one of very few people crossing this bridge, following the long provisional walkway to PedWest. The place was well-lit and the moon was full, however, it was a bit unnerving and feeling as if I were the only one there because other people were either so way ahead of or so far behind me.
From Google Earth / Map the city blocks look so large, however, they aren't that bad when you're actually there walking.
El Arco, Liberty Path, PedWest, Mercado the'Artesennia, bridge Tijuana river, McDon
A word of caution to the bros: the Liberty footpath between US border, over the Tijuana river foot bridge to El Arco, used to be a very lively and fun walk, but has turned into a ghost town after 2008, very dark and deserted after dark.
The walking path from El Arco to PedWest is dark and deserted at night, and there are criminals and homeless druggies living and sleeping in hidden alleys and dark corners. If confronted by muggers, no one can come to your aid, and there is nowhere to escape unless you want to jump 30 feet onto Tijuana river hard concrete bottom filled with sewage. Unless you go with a large group of guys and are ready to fight, you should not risk getting robbed and potentially beat up.
There is a little Policia tower on the bridge, allegedly to safeguard pedestrians, but it has been unmanned for like 10 years. I have never seen any policia along that walk, day or night even before 2008. But one afternoon a few years ago at the foot of the bridge, with the public toilet next to Mercado D'Artesennia, there was a big commotion with 2 squad cars, a moto cop and foot patrol cops driving over the sidewalk, attacking the toilet. It turned out a guy refused to pay 25 cents to the toilet attendant and ran. She called the fine Tijuana cops. The rest is stories of heroism written in the illustrious history of the brave Tijuana Policia.
So do whatever you want in Tijuana, but always pay the toilet attendants, unless you want the entire department to descend on you.