[sustran] FW: COLOMBIA'S CAR FREE DAY

[Paul Barter]

-----Original Message-----
From: Oscar Edmundo Diaz [mailto:diazoe at latino.net.co] 
Sent: Saturday, 9 February 2002 12:28 AM
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:@mx1po.jaring.my;
Subject: COLOMBIA'S CAR FREE DAY


Colombia's no-car day a success
By Associated Press     Feb 7, 2002

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - In a program that's set to spread to other
countries, millions of Colombians hiked, biked, skated or took the bus to
work during a car-free on Feb. 7, leaving the streets of this capital city
eerily devoid of traffic jams. The weather, which has been sunny and crisp
in recent days, did not cooperate with Bogota's "Day Without Cars." Roiling
gray clouds dumped occasional rain showers on Bogota, which is perched 8,500
feet above sea level in an Andean plain. "The rain hasn't stopped people
from participating," said Bogota Mayor Antanas Mockus, who pedaled over to
the residence of the ambassador of Holland, Teunis Kamper, for a joint ride.
Before the two set off together, a reporter asked Kamper if he had exercised
to prepare for Thursday. "I'm Dutch," the beaming ambassador said. "I was
practically born on a bike." Rifle-toting soldiers - part of enforced
security to ward off stepped up rebel attacks in past weeks - watched packs
of cyclists and people on inline skates weave past. "I thought I was at
Venice Beach or something," said an American oil executive, who normally is
chauffeured to work with a bodyguard, but who chose to walk on Thursday. One
policeman watched with amusement as a novice inline skater had a hard
landing on his rear, then helped the embarrassed man to his feet. Around
midday, the sun broke through, the clouds lifting from emerald mountains on
the edge of Bogota. It was the third straight year cars have been banned -
with only buses and taxis permitted - for one day in this capital city of 7
million. The goal is to promote alternative transportation and reduce smog.
Violators faced $25 fines. For the first time, two other Colombian cities,
Cali and Valledupar, joined the event. "It's a good opportunity to take away
stress and lower air pollution," said businessman Carlos Arturo Plaza, 48,
as he rode a two-seat bicycle with his wife in Bogota. Municipal authorities
from other countries came to Bogota to see the event, and were enthusiastic.
"These people are generating a revolutionary change, and this is crossing
borders," said Enrique Riera, the mayor of Asuncion, Paraguay. Mayor Alberto
Gallardo of Ovalle, Chile, said his town planned to adopt a day without
cars. Bike repairmen waited along paths and roads to fix flat tires and
tighten loose screws. Bikes ranged from sleek 18-gear mountain bikes to
ancient pedal pushers with peeling paint and bald tires. The day without
cars is part of an improvement campaign that began in Bogota in the
mid-1990s. It has seen the construction of 118 miles of bicycle paths
- the most of any Latin American city, according to Mockus. Parks and sports
centers have also bloomed throughout the city; uneven, pitted sidewalks have
been replaced by broad, smooth sidewalks; rush-hour restrictions have
dramatically cut traffic; and new restaurants and upscale shopping districts
have cropped up.

Best,

Oscar Edmundo Diaz
diazoe at latino.net.co