Skip to Content
Streetsblog San Francisco home
Streetsblog San Francisco home
Log In
Bicycling

Riding Bogotá’s Bountiful Protected Bikeways

Since 1998, Bogotá, Colombia has built more than 300 kilometers of protected bikeways. Streetfilms recently had the chance to explore the city's bike network with the man responsible for building it, former mayor Enrique Peñalosa.

"When we build very high quality bicycle infrastructure, besides protecting cyclists, it shows that a citizen on a $30 bicycle is equally as important to one in a $30,000 car," said Peñalosa. And as mayor, he walked the walk, extending the network of protected bikeways to every community.

Now the investment in cycling infrastructure is paying off. After starting off with hardly any bike commuters, Bogota is pushing a five percent bike commute mode-share.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog San Francisco

Streetsblog SF editor Roger Rudick offers constructive criticism of Chicago’s downtown bike network

"There were blocks that felt very safe and very secure," he said. "But then you're immediately – voom! – disgorged into three lanes of moving traffic with no protection."

April 26, 2024

Commentary: There is Zero Ambiguity to the West Portal Tragedy

What happened in West Portal was entirely predictable and preventable. The city must now close Ulloa to through traffic and make sure it can never happen again

April 25, 2024
See all posts