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Health & Fitness

Bogotá's Ciclovía

How a city of eight million people encourages exercise

Michael:  Thought to share with readers one of the things Bogotá does to help the city of eight million people get exercise. It is called Ciclovía. Other countries like Australia, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada Ecuador, Mexico and some places in the USA have something similar. However it was Bogotá who started it.

Graciela:  Every Sunday and on many of the holidays between the hours of 7AM and 2PM they close 120 Kilometers of streets to cars. Citizens then use those streets to ride their bikes, rollerblade, walk their dogs or just take a stroll.

Michael:  The government also sets up little places where vendors offering services such as bike repair, cold drinks, first aid stops and other services necessary for participants can operate. There are police and Ciclovía employees directing traffic and riding the streets to help with any problems.

Graciela:  It is also not unusual for people to use the opportunity to ride their bicycles to shop at stores near the routes or drink a coffee while watching all the others.

Michael:  It is estimated that each Sunday approximately two million people (more than twice the population of Detroit) take to the streets to participate. This also makes Bogotá the largest public cycling in the world.

Graciela:  Of course not everyone is happy. Those who wish to go everywhere by car, taxis and buses have to figure out routes that avoid the closed streets. A few years back a Colombian congressman introduced a law to ban Ciclovías. Of course he met with a whole lot of opposition and it never passed.

Michael:  In many places in the USA where I have lived they had permanent bike paths for the citizens to use. But Bogotá's Ciclovia goes beyond just a trail.  With the vast number of people, the shops and general ambience it is a unique experience as well as excellent exercise.

More writings, both in English and Spanish, as well as peeks into life in Bogotá can be found on our website of www.MichaelandGraciela.com

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