| It sounds surprising, but Bogota, Colombia is one of | | | | reduced dramatically. |
| the most modern metropolitan cities in Latin America, | | | | But Penalosas efforts did not end there. In February |
| and one of the most progressive. Urban development | | | | 2000, Penalosas first 'car free day' was held. No cars |
| in Bogota is proving to be environmentally friendlier, | | | | were allowed to drive anywhere in the entire city |
| cost effective and convenient for the citys residents, | | | | between 6:30 am until 7:30pm. Despite the day |
| and the world is taking notice. | | | | occurring on a Thursday, no major disruptions were |
| Perched high in the Andes, 2,600 meters above sea | | | | reported, and some local retail businesses even |
| level, Bogota is the biggest and busiest city in | | | | reported a welcome increase in sales. |
| Colombia, edging towards 8 million people. Its the | | | | The day was declared a success and a public |
| centre of Colombias economy, military and trade | | | | referendum was held, determining that an annual car |
| industries, and the face of a country which has | | | | free day every February would be organised. Further |
| struggled for peace and security for many years. | | | | to this, it was decided that by 2015, driving between |
| Both historically and contemporarily, Bogota has | | | | morning and afternoon peak hours would be banned |
| struggled to cope with civil unrest, widespread | | | | altogether during weekdays. |
| poverty, violence and one of the largest illegal drug | | | | Public approval of the plan was such that now, every |
| producing industries in the world. But beyond the | | | | Sunday in Bogota is also a car free day, allowing |
| headlines of chaos, Bogota has plenty to teach the | | | | residents to travel by roller blades and bikes |
| world about progress. | | | | anywhere within the city without the danger of cars |
| In 1998 Enrique Penalosa was elected as mayor of | | | | to contend with. |
| Bogota. During his term of service, which lasted until | | | | Along with the reduction of personal vehicle use, |
| 2001, he was responsible for a radical agenda of | | | | Penalosa also focused on an efficient public transport |
| successful urban re-development projects. These | | | | system, and the development of Bogotas |
| projects were not developed out of environmental | | | | Transmilenio system was begun. Car lanes on busy |
| and economic concerns only, but also out of concern | | | | streets and arterial roads were reclaimed for a |
| for the psychological and physical effects on Bogotas | | | | network of high speed buses in dedicated lanes. |
| residents through over urbanisation. | | | | Since the opening of the system in late 2000, the |
| He declared 'I dream of a tropical city, crisscrossed | | | | travelling time of the average commuter using the |
| by large pedestrian avenues, shaded by enormous | | | | system was decreased by 32%, gas emissions were |
| tropical trees, as the axes of life of those cities.' | | | | reduced by 40% and the amount of accidents in |
| His motivation was his belief that a developing nation | | | | areas where the system operates reduced by 90%. |
| could take their modest situation in the scheme of | | | | There were critics, of course, but the majority of |
| global wealth and development as an advantage. An | | | | Bogotanos supported these projects. They are now |
| opportunity to avoid development mistakes of first | | | | enjoying the benefits of exercise, shorter traveling |
| world nations, and in doing so, create the best urban | | | | times to and from work and reduced transport |
| environment possible: one that services the needs of | | | | expenses. Family welfare groups are also supportive, |
| its citizens efficiently but is also an enjoyable | | | | due to the increase on families spending time |
| environment to live in. | | | | together rollerblading and biking around the city. |
| He said 'Over the past 80 years we have been | | | | Today, Penalosa is hailed as a pioneer. He is credited |
| building cities for cars much more than for people. If | | | | by many Colombians as changing the face of their |
| only children had as much public space as cars, most | | | | nation but the international community has also |
| cities in the world would become marvelous.' | | | | recognised his work. In 2000, he received the |
| He also believed that by bringing nature closer to | | | | prestigious Stockholm Challenge Award in recognition |
| Bogotas poor communities, he was bridging the gap | | | | of his Car Free Day project. |
| between the wealthy, who could afford to take | | | | The award was designed to acknowledge those who |
| countryside vacations, and the poor, by providing | | | | pioneer technological developments to improve quality |
| them with better recreational areas that would give | | | | of life and provide plausible models for others to |
| them somewhere to relax, exercise and spend time | | | | follow for the sake of global improvement, be it |
| with family, leading to a happier existence and | | | | environmentally or socially. |
| healthier lifestyle for all. | | | | After his term as Mayor of Bogota he was invited to |
| One of the most celebrated initiatives he undertook | | | | speak on behalf of the world Energy Foundation. |
| was the development of a massive network of | | | | Today he is a scholar at the New York University |
| cycleways all over the city, giving commuters a | | | | where he is writing a book on Urban Development. |
| safer, healthier and environmentally friendly | | | | When Penalosa's term ended in 2001, his campaign |
| alternative to travelling to work by car. | | | | did not. As well as pursuing urbanisation issues |
| Fittingly, the project was largely funded by an | | | | academically, he now works as a consultant for |
| increase in taxes on petrol. The thinking was, that | | | | developing world cities. His projects in Bogota have |
| those wealthy enough to choose to travel by car | | | | become the centre of research and study by other |
| instead of by bike, could choose to wear the hike in | | | | cities around the globe, as a model for local |
| tax also. Revenue was also raised by increasing public | | | | development projects in places including Mexico City, |
| parking fees. | | | | Delhi, Lima, Panama City, Jakarta and Guangzhou. |
| Restrictions were also placed on the hours between | | | | But perhaps the greatest contribution Penalosa made |
| which people could drive cars through the streets of | | | | was his demonstration that good urban development |
| the city, forcing people to ride bikes, walk or catch | | | | comes firstly through a change of attitude. That by |
| public transport during peak hour periods. The desired | | | | taking action and exploring less conventional |
| affect was achieved with a reduction of nearly 40% | | | | approaches, change for the better is possible and |
| of cars during these hours. | | | | affordable. |
| Today there is more than 300kms of ciclorutas in | | | | As he said, Public space is for living, doing business, |
| Bogota, the most extensive network in any city of | | | | kissing, and playing. Its value can't be measured with |
| the world. The use of bicycles in Botoga has risen by | | | | economics or mathematics; it must be felt with the |
| 900% and the amount of traffic accidents has also | | | | soul. |