Rallying Against Cyclist Killings

Diego Garcia, left, calls for an end to murders like the one which cost him his son, who shared his name.

A crowd of protesting cyclists
on Plaza Bolivar.

Last October, Diego Alexander García, 33, was riding his bike home in the early morning in Bosa, when a group of men attacked and robbed him. Garcia resisted and was fatally stabbed in the neck, and two passersby who tried to defend him were stabbed as well.

The thieves escaped with the bicycle and Garcia became one of dozens of Bogotá bicyclists killed each year, either thru accidents or by criminals.

Hundreds of angry cyclists rallied on Plaza Bolivar Sunday morning to draw attention to the deaths and to call for stiffer penalties for theft, since suspects are often released almost immediately, as well as special police units for battling bicycle theft and a national bicycle registry.

'No more robberies.'

Those are good ideas, as a start. However, the registry idea has been tried before, and to be effective requires the participation of a large percentage of owners of high-end bikes, at least, as well as the authorities' taking it seriously. And knowing the corruption and ineffectiveness of Colombian authorities (after our neighbor, a New Zealander, was stabbed almost to death not long ago, the police didn't even bother to interview the crime's witness or review the street's videos) I don't have much faith in law enforcement.

'I join the change.'

More effective might be taking away the incentive to steal bikes by cracking down on the stolen bike market, although this will be difficult to do without complicating the sale of legitimate used bikes. One method would be with sting operations: Have a guy show up at a shady shop offering a used bike lacking proper papers, and maybe with a locked chain wrapped around its seat tube. If the shop buys the bike, they get shut for two weeks, fined and their bicycle inventory gets confisticated. Or, set up a shady bike shop and see who shows up trying to hawk bikes of dubious origin. Yet another method would be to equip nice bikes with GPS tracers, let them get stolen, and then follow them to where the thieves store their merchandise.

A colorful character.

But will Colombian police use innovative methods to protect cyclists, most of whom are low-income people? I'm not holding my breath. At today's demonstration I didn't see a single police representative, except for those standing around with shields to ensure that cyclist protesters didn't storm Congress or the Supreme Court.

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours

Cyclist Suffers Toxic Attack!

A bicyclist gets smoke bombed by a bus on 26th Street. 

The other day, these bicyclists were pedaling along 26th St. when this bus belched this toxic cloud over one of them.

And some people ask why more Bogotanos don't ride bikes.

Other people ask why authorities don't sanction polluters. But why ask absurd questions?

Blog by Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours

Kicking Off Bogotá's Bicycle Week

'Welcome to the Day of the Bicycle.' If only every day were bicycle day...

Bogotá's 6th Week of the Bicycle kicked off today in the Parque Nacional with mountain bike races, an exhibition of low-rider and old timey bikes and even a bicycle museum. The week will also have forums, a bike show and other events.

These things are fine, and hopefully will popularize cycling here. But I've always believed that reducing air pollution, making car drivers respect cyclists and making cars pay their costs to society (read: more expensive gasoline, higher taxes and charging for car parking) are necessary to motivate more Bogotanos to get onto bikes.

'Fewer Cars, More Bikes.' Let's hope so.

Entrance to the bicycle museum.

A bicycle by Leonardo da Vinci inside the Bicycle Museum.

A low-rider bike. 

I didn't know Guy Fawkes cycled. 

A rider pumps uphill in the Parque Nacional.

Kids pedal thru a maze in the Parque Nacional. 

Bikes and riders from days gone by.

Women mountain bikers charge uphill in the Parque Nacional.

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours

The Bicycle as Marketing Hook - for Cars

The Centro Andino's car ad features a bicycle.

A first glance at this full-page advertisement by the swanky Centro Andino shopping mall might leave you thinking that the mall is pushing cycling - but you'd be mistaken. Instead, the Andino thinks the bicycle is a nice symbol of youth, coolness, sophistication or something - and a great way to market cars, like this monster vehicle being raffled off.

Does the Centro Andino provide practical parking for bicycles? (I sort of doubt it.)

Does the Centro Andino provide free parking for cars? (Almost certainly)

Does the Centro Andiino use the bicycle as anything more than a marketing tool for cars. (I really doubt it.)

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours

Scenes from the Ruana Ride

La Ruana, along with coffee and the sombrero vueltiao, represents Colombianess. Along with representing tradition and the humble campesino, this year La Ruana has come to be a symbol of rebellion against corporate and government power. Thus, donning a ruana in protests like this one means solidarity with the long-suffering small farmer.

This evening's bicycle ride, then, was a gesture of support for the farmers, who say that low prices for products such as milk and potatoes are making it impossible for them to make a living. The ride, from CityTV, down Ave. Septima to the Parque Nacional and then thru Teusaquillo and back again, was sponsored by Mi Caballito de Acero, a group of classic bicycle enthusiasts.

Mi Caballito de Acero

Riding down Ave. Septima

A campesino-style basket carrying bike.

Pedaling along Ave. Septima. 

Bicycle power kid.

Classic bikes and period clothing in the Parque Nacional. 

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours

TransMilenio Attacks a Cyclist

A cyclist descending Ave. Jimenez (also known as the Eje Ambiental, the Environmental Axis), on a collision course with a TransMilenio bus's exhaust.

The suffering cyclist after a toxic bath, courtesy of TransMilenio.

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours

The Bicycle's (Tiny) Corner

Restoring a classic bike. (Photo: El Tiempo)

In what seems like a commendable move, El Tiempo, Colombia's biggest newspaper, has added a regular Saturday page called 'The Bicycle Corner,' about urban cycling. Past weeks' stories have been about a women's cycling club, folding bikes and the new bike lane on Calle 26; This week's is about a group of classic bike fans.

Can you see 'The Bicycle's Corner'
amidst all those car ads?

So, good for El Tiempo for dedicating a bit of its real estate to sustainable transport. Still, it looks like a lonely business, and I'm afraid that the label of 'corner' is all too appropriate, considering the overwhelming amount of car culture and propaganda in the paper. Today's paper, for example, includes a 16-page section called 'Vehicles,' mostly about cars, trucks and motorcycles. And that's beside all the car advertisements which fill the paper every day.

'Women on Bikes' (Photo: El Tiempo)

By Mike Ceaser of Bogota Bike Tours

Bicycle Theft on La Ciclovía - Redux!

Why would a thief carry off a bike instead of riding it? Why would a bike thief wear a mask? But the photo's dramatic!

It's a real problem. Today, one of Bogotá Bike Tours' bikes got stolen, from a client. She had gotten off of the bike on Seventh Ave. and 64th St., during La Ciclovia, when some guys dressed in cycling clothing approached her and invited her on rides up a road outside of Bogotá. Suddenly, one of them pulled out a knife, another hopped on the bicycle, and that was it.

I'll point out that this wasn't just any old bike, but a shiny new aluminum frame bike. The best way to not have this happen to you is to ride an old, or old-looking bike.

It's happened many times before, to us and to others. Few items are easier to make off with than a bicycle, or easier to sell. I suspect that they'll repaint ours or send it to Medellin or elsewhere to fence. And, the best place to steal a bike is on La Ciclovia, where all you have to do is sit back and wait until a vulnerable-looking person passes by on a nice bike.

Obviously, in a city of eight million people, the police can't be everywhere. And, in any case, every time I visit a police station to place a denuncia - which I've done more than once - the cops complain that their hands are tied by Colombian law, and that using 'bait bikes' would mean illegal entrapment.

These thieves are not kids who spot an opportunity, but organized rings which prey regularly on cyclists. So, catching them would mean recovering lots of bikes and preventing many future thefts. 

Anti-theft advice consists mostly of locking your bike securely, with one or even two U-locks.

But this advice isn't worth much against Bogotá thieves, who aren't shy about taking the bike from its rider - whether by deceit, threat or physical strength.

On La Ciclovia: Your bike could be next!

In a previous incident, the thieves also worked in a team. One blocked the cyclist's path along La Ciclovía, forcing him to stop. Then his buddy pulled the rider off of the bike and hopped on himself. In a moment, they were gone. I've heard of other cases in which the thieves simply befriend the victim and then ask to try out their bike. You can image what happens next.

The one thing which can stop these thefts is public action. If the many people nearby would only respond by yelling at the thieves, grabbing the stolen bike's rear wheel, blocking the thief's path - any of many things which meant almost no risk to themselves - the thief might very well have gotten caught, and might even seek a different line of work.

My advice: Carry a lock, be aware of who's around you. And, most of all, don't be vain. Ride an older bike or make your new bike look older and worn! 

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours

Finally!!! You Can Park Your Bike!

The Las Aguas facility, on Jimenez Ave. 

The squeaky wheel does get the grease, at least sometimes. In a sort of landmark for Bogotá cyclists, following recent protests. The bicycle parking buildings built years ago in the Puntos de Encuento at four Transmilenio stations are finally open to receive bicycles. Now, let the cyclists come! 

The parking lots are located in the Alcala (Autopista Norte and 138th St.), Las Aguas (Eje Ambiental and 18th St.), Mundo Aventura (Ave. Americas and Boyacá) and the Tintal (Ciudad de Cali Ave. and Americas Ave.) TM stations. They're open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 8 to 5 on Saturdays.

The service is free. Just bring your bike, cedula and your lock.

Parchita waits to park herself!

But we'll see how long it lasts. The city is looking for private businesspeople to run the parking facilities. But it's hard to see how anybody could pay rent and actually make money operating the things. Today, I visited the one in Las Aguas and the guard told me that only a few people a day were leaving bikes there, altho, hopefully, those numbers will improve.

The city needs to publicize the service and remember that cycling is a public benefit deserving public subsidies, because it reduces traffic congestion and pollution and improves people's health.

Blog written by Mike Ceaser, of Bogota Bike Tours.