Pedicabers Protest For Their Right To Pedal

Colorful pedicabs lined up in front of the Palacio de Justicia on Plaza Bolivar. 

The other day, Plaza Bolivar's look changed more radically than it has since the zorreros protested, as hundreds of pedicab drivers occupied the square demanding their right to work. 

Two pedicab drivers. 

In fact, thousands of pedicabs, called bicitaxis, operate throughout Bogotá, carrying passengers on short trips, often less than a mile, between TransMilenio stations and nearby destinations. The pedicabs are a cheap, efficient, non-polluting transport mode which cause little congestion - in particular, because they often combine passengers who arrive separately, something normal taxis can't do. 

Dozens of pedicabs and their drivers in front of Congress. 

Ideal, right? Except that the pedicabs are technically illegal. Their drivers complain that police sometimes harass them and even confisticate their vehicles.

The only explanation I've been able to get for this perverse situation is the political pressure from conventional taxi drivers, who see the pedicabs as a threat. Perhaps they are, altho only in a very minor, limited way. But city leaders need to defy the taxistas lobby and do what's best for the city by legalizing and supporting the pedicabs. In addition to issues of transit and serving the public, the pedicab drivers are poor men with very limited skills and education. If they lose their way of life, many families will likely go hungry. 

Pedaling across the plaza. 

Transit officials on two wheels look over the protest march, which also included many other organizations. 

A late arrival pedals up. 

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogota Bike Tours

More Bike Lanes for Bogotá?

Studying a map of proposed bicycle lanes in the IDU this morning. 

A cyclist steers around pedestrians on a
sidewalk bike lane in central Bogotá.

The administration of Mayor Gustavo Petro, who recently said that pedestrians should have top transit priority, followed by cyclists, then public transit and then finally private cars, has proposals to build close to 200 kms of new bicycle lanes. At a meeting this morning in the Urban Development Institute (IDU), officials said they're studying some 185 kms of new bike lanes and evaluating whether they'd be on sidewalks, as many existing lanes are, or on streets, as the mayor has proposed.

Each design has problems: Many sidewalk lanes consist of little more than stripes painted on the pavement and cyclists have to dodge pedestrians, potholes and delivery vehicles. But if the lanes are in the street, cyclists will have to battle cars and motorcycles, which will certainly not respect cyclists' territory. And, it puts cyclists in the direct aim of exhaust pipes connected to motors burning dirty fuel and lacking pollution controls.

The sort sidewalk 'cicloruta,' or bike lane, which we don't need. 

What happens when bike lanes are in the street: This truck found this bike lane to be a good place to park. 

Two of the streets proposed for new bike lanes are Carrera Septima and Calle 19.

Ave. Septima might have room for a bike lane, particularly if the city builds a light rail line down its middle. 

But where would a bike lane fit on Calle 19?

And how many cyclists would dare to ride up the street behind smoke-spouting vehicles like these?



I made these two videos today, in a period of about twenty minutes - and they were only two of many smog belching vehicles I saw.

Priorities for cyclists? On 19th a cyclist waits for a long time for a chance to cross.

Finally, he grabs a chance to cross. 

Once across, he continues on the sidewalk. 

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours

Public Bikes on Seventh Ave.

Attendants and bikes on Seventh Ave. 

Bogotá's long-promised public bicycles system appears no closer to reality. But, in what will hopefully spur officialdom to get it moving, City Hall and the IDRD have set up a low-tech, small-scale bike lending program on the pedestrianized stretch of Ave. Septima between 19th and 24th Sts.

The aluminum-frame bikes are lots nicer than needed
for five level blocks of Ave. Septima.

Right now, they've got 16 bikes, stationed in two spots, by 19th St. and 24th. But they have more bikes available and intend to expand, an attendant told me. The bikes are nice ones, with aluminum frames. And security isn't bullet-proof: attendants make sure users have a valid photo ID, and take a photograph of the person with ID and bike. Users are supposed to remain only on the five blocks of Seventh Ave. which are closed to cars while the bridge over 26th St. is replaced as part of the TransMilenio expansion project (The new bridge is supposed to be completed in 100 days.)

Encouragingly, an attendant told me they lent bikes 130 times today, which was happily rain-free. Yesterday was tougher, however, because of cold rain and protest marches.

"When the protests finally ended, the rains started," an attendant lamented.

Students, local employees and "even business men in suits and ties," used the bikes. Not a single one was stolen, altho I can't imagine it'd be very difficult for someone to present a fake ID and then dart down a side street into the Santa Fe neighborhood, where a stolen bike would be easy to hide.

This five-block project isn't very practical for transport, altho officials should consider expanding it to include spots near universities along the Eje Ambiental. But it demonstrates, once again, that real demand exists for public bicycles in Bogotá, and that this city of traffic jams may be missing an opportunity by not pursuing the idea, as Medellin is.

Users riding five blocks on loaned bikes. Each loan includes a helmet, but few got used. 

A bicycle stand. 

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours

Bogotá's Suddenly Bikeable Seventh Ave.

Where cars normally rule, now it's bikes and pedestrians. 

Walking across the bridge over 26th St. 

Bogotá's normally chaotic, congested and contaminated Seventh Ave. has suddenly become bikeable, thanks to the demolition of the bridge over 26th St. - at least for the seven blocks between 19th and 26th Sts.

While it's only a short stretch, and cyclists and pedestrians still have to fight traffic and pollution to the north and south, to the city's credit it's made a real effort to create a 'humane' transit scheme for the car-free stretch of Seventh Ave. (Which will last at least five months and might be extended to Plaza Bolivar, and even made permanent).

To the north of 26th, they also added a useful bike lane, altho the barrier can't protect against the chronic pollution.

Are these improvements signs of bigger things to come? We can only hope.

Seventh Ave. in normal times. A bicyclist fights his way amidst traffic. 

In normal times, cycling along Seventh Ave. is not child's play. 

The bike lane has even made Seventh a tourist attraction. 

The bicycle lane's presence doesn't mean it's respected. 

The city also created this bike lane near the old Bavaria brewery. It's useful, but the pylons orovide no protection from noise and pollution. 

Is this just temporary, or the start of a more bikeable Bogotá?

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogota Bike Tours

Scenes from La Ciclovia

Cycling on Seventh Ave.

The recent weeks have been great ones for Bogotá's Ciclovia, with sunny days and nary a drop of rain. (But the rainy season is nye....)

With the demolition of Seventh Ave.'s bridge over 26th St. as part of the TransMilenio expansion, the city incoprorated a detour onto Carrera 10. It's not perfect, but give the city credit for giving La Ciclovia its due importance. Building of the new bridge is supposed to take five months. Cross your fingers!

La Ciclovia is not just for cyclists. Here, a bunch of skateboarders. 

In the National Park, hundreds of people participate in public aerobics class, called 'La Recreovia.'

Aristobulo, who repairs bikes by the National Park.

The Ciclovia has been detoured onto Carrera 10 during the replacement of the Seventh Ave. bridge over 26th St. 

Dogs get their exercise, too. 

A learner on two wheels. 

In the National Park, kids play roller hockey.

One of the nice things about Bogotá's Ciclovia is the number of kids out riding bikes. Hopefully, many will become lieftime cyclists. 

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogota Bike Tours

Car-Free Day is Not Bicycles Day

A cyclists carries his son on 13th St., which was wonderfully uncongested today. 

Today was Bogotá's annual Car-Free Day, intended to get auto-addicts to think about new ways to get around.

Cyclists use a bike lane
near Jorge Tadeo University.

One of those ways is cycling. Disappointingly, however, I didn't see a whole lot more cyclists than usual. Here are photos of a few of them.

This bike lane behind the Central
Cemetery was blocked by four
of these carts in one block's distance. 

Cyclist vs. TransMilenio.

A bicyclist crosses a street near Jorge Tadeo University. 

At the Universidad Central, the parking lot attendants told me that about 80 people had arrived by bike - some eight times the usual number. However, that was probably partly because the university organized a bike ride out to some wetlands. At the neighboring Universidad Jorge Tadeo, the parking lot attendants said that 23 cyclists had arrived - only a few more than 15 people who normally pedal to campus. And, they added, the number had plummeted from the more than 50 who pedaled to campus during last year's Car-Free Day. All of this despite the fact that the university sent out an e-mail reminding people that free bike parking was available. (Bicycles park free there every day, in fact.)

What could the city do to get more folks onto bicycles, at least this one day? How about bike lanes right down the middle of major avenues? How about public bicycles, at least for one day?

Traffic actually moves at rush hour in central Bogotá. Ordinarily, at this hour of the evening this street is a traffic jam. 

Cycling thru the usually congested and chaotic streets of the Santa Fe neighborhood. 

A flooring company uses the 'Car-Free Day' - right beside a car advertisement. 

Universidad Jorge Tadeo's uncrowded bicycle parking lot. 

At the Universidad Central they set up two extra racks for bikes. 

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogota Bike Tours