[sustran] Bogotá's Carfree day 2008 (or taxi day 2008, or bicycle day 2008, or motorcycle day 2008)

[Carlosfelipe Pardo]

Even with the new mayor, Bogotá can't escape the mandate of having the 
10th citiwide Carfree day today (thank God). When coming out this 
morning to see what had changed, I noticed the following:

- There were no cars (duh... except for those of diplomats and 
high-level government officials...not a very coherent message)

- There were too many motorcycles, taxis and traditional buses (see a 
sample: http://flickr.com/photos/carlosfpardo/2247897607/ )

- There were lots of bicycles... mainly young people (which gives us 
more hope), plus the ones who, like me, anyway take the bicycle to work 
every day... a sample of this as well: 
http://flickr.com/photos/carlosfpardo/2248690270/

- Those who are not wearing a helmet are taken to a police officer and 
scolded at for a short while, plus they have to sign their name in a 
booklet (I still don't understand the signature part)... they are not 
fined or taken anywhere, they're just told "remember to wear a helmet".

I also wrote a small column in the local newspaper, and comments in the 
website have been: "lovely article" and "you crazy extremist"...

Interesting day... I hope there is more to tell after the day is over.

-- 

Carlosfelipe Pardo
Coordinador de Proyecto- Project Coordinator
GTZ - Proyecto de Transporte Sostenible (SUTP, SUTP-LAC)
Cl 93A # 14-17 of 708
Bogotá D.C., Colombia
Tel/fax:  +57 (1) 236 2309  Mobile: +57 (3) 15 296 0662
carlos.pardo at gtz.de        www.gtz.de
(carlos.pardo at sutp.org   www.sutp.org )