Bogotá Commits to the Bicycle

The city of Bogotá has engaged in what Andrea Jaramillo describes as a "bike-lane building spree that could be a model in Latin America" in an effort to mitigate a resurgence of traffic congestion after lockdown. "Currently, almost 7% of overall trips in Bogotá are on bicycles, more than in any other city in Latin America. But the city is aiming much higher: The long-term goal is to have 50% of total trips made on bikes or other micromobility alternatives such as scooters," writes Jaramillo. 

Jaramillo's article describes Colombia's capital city's tried relationship with congestion and public transportation. Without a subway system, about 40% of the nation's trips make use of the TransMilenio bus rapid transit system. The famously traffic-laden city is also known for its narrow streets, densely populated neighborhoods, air pollution. 

Mayor Claudia López wants to change the city's car-reliant reputation and reality by continuing the work for former mayor Enrique Peñalosa to increase bike infrastructure and encourage more Borotanos to travel by bike. "While 65% of households don’t own a car, 85% of the city’s public space is currently used up by motorized vehicles, Nicolás Estupiñán, Bogotá’s secretary of mobility, said in a webcast in June," reports Jaramillo. One step in the bike direction: setting aside a fifth of parking for bike lanes during the pandemic.