Reseña

The Bogotá 2014 Bicycle Account produced by members of Despacio (a Bogotá-based NGO),presents critical, up-to-date facts and figures about the state of cycling in Bogotá, Colombia’s capital and largest city. Home to nearly eight million people, Bogotá is often considered a bikefriendly
city due to its extensive network of bikeways, which has grown since the late 1990s, and the recreational Ciclovía on Sundays and holidays, in existence since 1974. However, in many areas, cycling policy in the city still needs improvement. This report is modeled after Copenhagen’s landmark publication, Copenhagen: City of Cyclists- Bicycle Account, published every two years
since 1996. Copenhagen’s reports concisely describe the perceptions and state of bicycle use in the famously bike-friendly city (City of Copenhagen, 2012). Authorities in the Netherlands have produced similar documents, such as “Cycling in the Netherlands” (Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat, 2007; Mobycom, Fietsberaad, Ligtermoet & Partners, & Waterstaat, 2009).
This report draws on previous research about bicycle use in the city to understand trends, highlight emerging issues, provide new information, and make recommendations. The Bogotá 2014 Bicycle Account is divided thematically and begins with a brief historical overview. It then discusses infrastructural issues, specifically the city’s bikeway network and bicycle integration with Transmilenio, Bogotá’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. Next, using survey data from various
sources, the report presents key social statistics about who uses bicycles and what people in the
city think about bike use. The report also discusses issues of road safety, an essential consideration when promoting bicycle use. Finally, it examines prospects for increased bicycle use by analyzing the associated benefits and the potential for mode shift from car to bicycle.