A primer on the streets of Las Cruces

Generally speaking, I love riding around this town. Things are close and the roads mostly have a nice north/south, east/west configuration. There are two problems though. One is that some streets just end. You think you can get across town or south of town on a road, but it ends somewhere and gives no indication of where to go next. The other problem is the street names or rather multiple named streets. This is what I will address today.

Someone tells you a shop is on Amador. That runs east/west. but around Main Street it splits and becomes Amador and Lohman. In the far west of town, looking for Lohman? You will not find it. Our friend Lou came up with a unique way of dealing with this, he calls the road Lomador. When he says its “on Lomador”, it reminds you of the two-name nature of the road and you adjust accordingly. Lou has a real knack for this sort of thing. At least I thought that he did but it seems that “Lomador” is his wife, Karen's creation. Well done Karen, well done. Once we were having a discussion of what to call the traditional Christmas decoration here, luminaries, a candle in a paper sack. It is called different things in different parts of the state. Not a problem for Lou, he simply calls them candlebaggios and everyone knows just what he means. Yes, Lou did come up with that one.

Across this town, the two name streets phenomenon happens with regularity. There is Spruce and Picacho, one road, two names; there is Missouri Ave. that becomes Boutz Road, there is Alameda Avenue which becomes El Paseo Road, and Three Crosses Avenue which becomes Dona Anna Road after only about ½ mile. This is so confusing for newcomers. Some other examples: Mesquite becomes Esperanza, and University Avenue becomes Dripping Springs Road.

So, I am calling out to my friends Lou and Karen and anyone who reads this and understands the hassle of getting lost, to help correct this street name nightmare by coming up with names that reflect the dual nature of all said roads. I’ll even give you a head start – I am pretty partial to Sprucatcho. I am willing to take on all suggestions but Karen and Lou get the final say.