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