OAXACA, MEXICO — In the state of Oaxaca, where “bloqueos” (roadblocks) have become a near-daily reality for commuters, one local woman has devised a unique and unconventional solution to ensure she is never late for work or school: she simply skates through them.

Claudia Ojeda, a young resident of the state capital, has gained attention on social media for her peculiar method of navigating the city’s gridlock. On her TikTok profile, Ojeda shares videos of herself gliding past barricades and weaving through protest camps, effectively turning a logistical nightmare into a personal playground.

“For those who don’t know, there are many roadblocks in Oaxaca, but the streets are empty and quiet, just for me and my skates,” Ojeda remarked in one of her viral videos.

Her videos, which have garnered thousands of reactions and hundreds of comments, offer a striking visual of the city’s atmosphere. While some viewers have praised her ingenuity, calling it a “happy day” and a “unique opportunity” to see the city from a different perspective, others have issued practical warnings. “Be very careful; sometimes they put out tapes or threads that aren’t easily visible,” one commenter cautioned.

Ojeda’s “skating solution” highlights a significant infrastructure and social challenge for the region. According to the Defensoría de Derechos Humanos del Pueblo de Oaxaca (DDPO), Oaxaca is consistently among the Mexican states with the highest frequency of protests and roadblocks.

Data suggests that the situation is particularly acute in the state capital. Local media reports indicate that approximately 38% of all protests and mobilizations in the territory are concentrated in the municipality of Oaxaca de Juárez and its surrounding metropolitan area. The most affected zones include the historic center, major arteries, and the primary access roads to the regional airport.

By choosing to skate through these zones, Ojeda has become a symbol of individual adaptation in a landscape shaped by collective protest, turning a symbol of regional frustration into a personal path of mobility.