Be courteous and don't take anything personally. Albuquerque drivers seem to feel like commuting is a competition. They frequently box people out and cut them off. I've found that by not mimicking this behavior, the drive is much less stressful. Let people in your lane when they try merging, use your signal, and practice lane discipline. You may be the only one within view who is doing these things and you won't "win" whatever the other drivers are trying to, but it will pay off in peace of mind and sanity.

Sadly, competition is pretty scarce and the price of new cars are inflated. My last two cars were purchased online from out of state dealers. For used, private party sales are the way to go. Craigslist and Autotrader will serve you well.

When I first moved to town, I worked the graveyard shift. On my very first weekend, I stayed on night schedule and took a drive along old Route 66 at around 3:00 am. It was drizzling and the streetlights and stop signs reflected off the wet asphalt. Despite the late hour, the area near UNM and the Frontier Restaurant was bustling with a very diverse group of people. It was a wonderful introduction to the city that would become my home for over a decade.

Tramway Boulevard. There is a wonderful drive around the city that friends and I like to call, "The Big Loop." Starting out from Sandia Casino, drive east/south along Tramway Blvd. From here, you have an amazing view of the city and beautiful houses in the Sandia foothills. Continue until you reach Central Ave, then turn west. You are now on historic Route 66. This drive is always interesting as there is an eclectic mix of old and new buildings and very busy sidewalks. People watching here is always interesting. After several miles, you'll ascend what the locals call, Nine Mile Hill. From here, you turn north on Atrisco Vista Blvd. From there, you now have another beautiful view of the city. This is the vantage point made popular in the TV series, Breaking Bad. At night, the view here is simply stunning. The route then turns into Paseo del Norte, which is a very busy thoroughfare that connects to I-25 and from there, you can return to your starting point by travelling north. This drive takes about an hour, more or less depending on traffic.

New Mexico rates #4 in the country for the percentage of uninsured drivers, and there is a serious DWI (driving while intoxicated) problem in the area. Be safe, buckle up, and watch others on the road. In the event you are in an incident, don't be bullied or pressured into just exchanging information. Take photos, verify the users info, and see if you can get the cops or witnesses. Cycling is BIG in this area, there are also a lot of hikers, joggers, and triathletes. Prepare to share the road with any/all of these, regardless of the season/time of year.

New Mexico and Albuquerque "contract out" their department of motor vehicle services. This is something way different than the states I've lived in. It's actually hard to go to the real state operated facilities. Additionally, New Mexico is a "title in hand" state, they require the actual title (regardless of lien status) to register any vehicle. This is something you don't see on the "Move to New Mexico" or "Welcome to Albuquerque" relocation tips websites. If you're not familiar with the West Coast or the Southwest, Albuquerque requires emissions testing on all registered vehicles. They also perform a very detailed background check when renewing license/registering a new vehicle.

My favorite memories/anecdotal experiences with driving in Albuquerque are actually driving out and away from the city. Metropolitan driving in this area is terrible (compared to the several other places I've traveled). However, the farther you get from the metropolitan area, Albuquerque provides smooth, well maintained roads, and fantastic views. I love driving to the many outdoor recreation opportunities here and the scenic mountain views while driving out here can't be beat.

Tramway BLVD. It's right next to the Sandia Mountains and has the perfect mix of the various cultures surrounding Albuquerque. From scenic mountains, to National Forests, amazing architecture (historic and modern) to Native American reservations and traces of Route 66 along the way. The road is also a smooth transition from incline to decline. Speed limits are clearly marked, and the road can take you thru to northern New Mexico (Santa Fe) via beautifully quiet Placitas and the Turquoise Trail.