Colombia has a reputation that it ill-deserves. Popular media portrays it as a dysfunctional narco-state that threatens the West with drugs and gangsters. Miami Vice has a lot to answer for. Instead the country at the top of South America has a lot going for it. Not least of which is its innovative urbanism.

CityLab highlights how there is a renewed focus on bicycles in its capital Bogota. Long famous amongst cycle proponents for its Ciclovía initiative that closes the streets of this city to cars on Sundays and Public Holidays from 7am to 2pm it allows for a festival like occupation by bikes and pedestrians where cars are sidelined. This is something I wish more cities would implement as often and as rigourously. Now though Bogotá is making more permanent changes. In part a response to the ongoing COVID lockdowns, a temporary cycle network is being joined by a an extension to the permanent network that will stretch some additional 280 kilometres. In total the network will be 830 kilometres.

The aim is to reduce car dependency and increase transportation options for all Bogotanos. "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."

And alternatives are needed as the city of 8 million does not have a subway or metro rail system. And we complain about Christchurch!

Read the rest of the article on CityLab.