Juicing by Bike

If juice-making contributes significantly to global warming, this group, calling itself La Kasita, has the solution. They'd connected a bicycle to a blender beside the Parque Nacional along La Ciclovia. After about a minute of pedaling, the lulo, maracuya, strawberries or other fruit were converted into juice.

Then, however, a Ciclovia guardiana appeared and told the juicemakers that they couldn't make juices along La Ciclovia without a permit. So they had to close up and go away.


But how clean is human-generated energy? I suppose that depends on whether you're a carnivore or a vegetarian.

Pour it on!

Pedal power. 

'I'm sorry, but this isn't permitted without a license.'

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogota Bike Tours

A Cycle Lane Success

Mayor Gustavo Petro's pedestrianization of Ave. Septima during the day and his creation of a bicycle lane have notably increased the number of cyclists on the stretch of Ave. Septima from Plaza Bolivar north to Calle 25, where the street reopens to cars.

And, that's not only because the city is lending bikes to use on this stretch.

Besides the increased number of bicyclists, pedaling here's now definitely safer, more pleasant and less polluted.

I've also noticed a large proportion of female cyclists on the pedestrianized Ave. Septima. Generally in Bogotá almost all commuter cyclists are male.

But Petro is now under seige, by a campaign to revoke his mandate. If Petro goes, then the car-free Septima, which many retailers oppose, will likely end, too.

Four cyclists, one of them carrying his daughter home from school,
use the bike lane on the pedestrianized stretch of Ave. Septima. 

Less than ideal. Ice cream vendors find the bike lane useful.

However, after passing 25th St., the bike lane just ends and cyclists share the road with cars, trucks and buses again....

A bike chained to a pole. The whole car-free 24-block stretch lacks a single bike parking rack.

From 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. this stretch of Ave. Septima opens to motorized traffic,
but the bike lane remains. 

This garbage truck found the bike lane a convenient place to stop,
forcing a delivery cyclist onto the sidewalk.

No cycle lane here! Farther north on La Septima a cyclist battles his way amongst cars and buses.

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours

How to Make a Bicycle 'Ecological'

I spotted this 'ecological bicycle,' otherwise known as an electric motorcycle, the other day on the campus of the National University in Bogotá. The ownders of real bicycles parked nearby, of course, feel no need to make ecological claims.

All of which has me tempted to grab my own bicycle, add a battery, an electric motor and about 100 pounds to it, so that I can label it 'ecological.'

By Mike Ceaser of Bogotá Bike Tours