<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)">  <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> This is also right up our alley in GTZ SUTP. However, where are the 200k? We could lend a hand in developing this and diffusing it.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> (also, English and Spanish versions would be useful).<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> Carlos F. Pardo Coordinador de Proyecto GTZ - Proyecto de Transporte Sostenible (SUTP, SUTP-LAC) Cl 125bis # 41-28 of 404 Bogotá D.C., Colombia Tel:  +57 (1) 215 7812 / 635 9048<o:p></o:p> Fax: +57 (1) 635 9015 / 236 2309 Mobile: +57 (3) 15 296 0662 e-mail: <a href="mailto:carlos.pardo@sutp.org" title="mailto:carlos.pardo@sutp.org">carlos.pardo@sutp.org</a> Página: <a href="http://www.sutp.org/" title="http://www.sutp.org/">www.sutp.org</a><o:p></o:p> - Visite nuestra nueva sección de Latinoamérica y el Caribe en <a href="http://www.sutp.org/esp/espindex.htm">http://www.sutp.org/esp/espindex.htm</a> <o:p></o:p> - Únase al grupo de discusión de Transporte Sostenible en Latinoamérica enviando un correo a sutp-lac-subscribe@gruposyahoo.com<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1> </div> From: Eric Britton [mailto:eric.britton@ecoplan.org] Sent: Lunes, 20 de Febrero de 2006 12:29 p.m. To: 'Lee Schipper'; eesandoval@cable.net.co Cc: diazoe@aolpremium.com; rgorham@atlantech.net; hidalgo_dario@bah.com; rcm2111@columbia.edu; mbuenon@gmail.com; whook@itdp.org; carlos.pardo@sutp.org; aardila@uniandes.edu.co; lfwright@usa.net; lindau@vortex.ufrgs.br; gmenckhoff@worldbank.org; Jlopezsilva@worldbank.org; 'Luis Gutierrez'; 'Nancy Kete'; NewMobilityCafe@yahoogroups.com; 'Paul Steely White'; 'Stefan Schaefer'; sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org; 'Mikel E. Murga' Subject: Times article on visiting Bogota leaves out Transmilenio!<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> Hmm.  Bottom line!<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> What this suggest to me is that this is exactly the right time to produce a first rate film/video along the lines of <a href="http://www.cicalafilmworks.com/cs/">Contested Streets</a>, together with a supporting media, outreach program, etc. – which provides a clear and understandable picture of “Why BRT and why not the other thing”.  Authoritative, balanced, easy, and above all very human. <o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Counterpoint: <o:p></o:p> ·         NYC and maybe one other US and, why not, one S. European city<o:p></o:p> ·         Scan existing metro line in each city (reminders of cost, time of construction, cost of delays, achieved ridership, operating deficits, danger/vandalism, etc.)<o:p></o:p> ·         Look at plan for a new line (costs, time, etc.)<o:p></o:p> ·         Visit 2, max. 3 BRTs that are doing the job in very different contexts<o:p></o:p> ·         Demonstrate how it would work in specific street/avenue situation of target cities.<o:p></o:p> ·         Wo(man) on the street interviews all around<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> I’d guess that something on the order of $200k or so would do the trick (but what do I now about this end of it, eh?).<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> It should be IRREFUTABLE!<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> I’d love to lend a hand.  As far as I am concerned this is right at the heart of the New Mobility Agenda as I understand it.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Eric Britton<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> <div style='border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm'>  <o:p></o:p> </div>  <o:p></o:p> After thinking about this, however, I realize there is an important hidden agenda...New York has struggled for 50 years over whether or not to build the 2nd ave. metro. Why not a BRT? Well, the reason is that the state owns the buses, the city the streets, but that aside, imagine the $1billion or so the city would save. So it had been my faint hope that New Yorkers would read this, see about TM, and say "hmm why not here"?<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> >>> <eesandoval@cable.net.co> 2/20/2006 11:26:13 AM >>><o:p></o:p> Dear Lee:<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> The real problem is that with our country security problems since the 70's; we lost the tourism culture here in Colombia, except in some cities in the Caribbean. After Peñalosa's period the people recover the confidence to come to Bogota, but we don't have strong tourism programs yet. There are, but they are starting. However, in almost all the tourism magazine in the airlines there are reference to TM and in each report about Bogota transformation. You can find tourism programs to go to down town by TM to the Gold and Botero Museums, especially to see the lights in the buildings in Christmas.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> In fact, it is the first document that I see, with these characteristics in the last three years, without mention or reference to TM. However, everyone in Bogota we are so happy with this article. This journalist is a hero for us. I'm sure that in his next visit he could use TM and he won't like to use the NY metro for example. I'm sure that he didn't know TM and his reference is for the rest of buses system in Bogota* this is a good opportunity for a new article about TM alone in the future. <o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> I know that TM agency had printed maps with tourism icons, sponsored expositions, theatre and films to show another option to the people on the stations, but in tourism, the best publicity is when the local people and the taxi drivers recommend visit the city by bus and we need more years before that the Bogotanians forget our terrible histories in the buses and the taxi drivers don't see TM like their enemy.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Of course, the current routes are mainly to go from the poor areas to the working places. With the introduction of the 7th avenue (the main street in historical terms) and the 26th street (airport, land terminal, convention centres, new hotel areas), I'm sure that this kind of trips will be increased in TM.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> I know that you really love TM, but we are in elementary (only 5 years in operation) and with the work of us here or outside of Bogota, everyday more people will use TM for tourism.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Don't forget that the most important in TM isn't the infrastructure or the buses, it is the cultural change, and on it, some times this kind of changes take more than one generation to be real.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Of course if one of you can find donations in order to promote tourism in TM worldwide, I'm sure that the new General Manager of TM Agency will be happy to accept. Or if you can sponsor more journalists to come and to write about it, everyone here will be ready to organize an especial program.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Best,<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Edgar Enrique Sandoval Castro<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> ----- Mensaje original -----<o:p></o:p> De: Lee Schipper <schipper@wri.org><o:p></o:p> Fecha: Domingo, Febrero 19, 2006 0:03 am<o:p></o:p> Asunto: RE: Times article on visiting Bogota  leaves out    Transmilenio!     How USCentric -- write letters !<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> > +But isnt it important to "mainstream" TM so that its a part of<o:p></o:p> > everyone's observations about bogota?<o:p></o:p> > <o:p></o:p> > >>> "Carlos F. Pardo SUTP" <carlos.pardo@sutp.org> 2/18/2006<o:p></o:p> > 4:29:31 PM >>><o:p></o:p> > Lee,<o:p></o:p> > <o:p></o:p> > I think the success has been broadcasted (maybe more than) enough.<o:p></o:p> > TM has<o:p></o:p> > (and still should) focus on access to the greater portion of the <o:p></o:p> > population,and it should start to address seriously key issues <o:p></o:p> > such as integration with<o:p></o:p> > other modes (for instance, the Americas bike station is actually <o:p></o:p> > the only<o:p></o:p> > one in the entire system, and there are no park-n-ride facilities <o:p></o:p> > that I<o:p></o:p> > know of). Once these issues are solved, it would be useful to <o:p></o:p> > think about<o:p></o:p> > tourists and further diffusion.<o:p></o:p> > <o:p></o:p> > Best regards,<o:p></o:p> > <o:p></o:p> > Carlos F. Pardo<o:p></o:p> > Coordinador de Proyecto <o:p></o:p> > GTZ - Proyecto de Transporte Sostenible (SUTP, SUTP-LAC) <o:p></o:p> > Cl 125bis # 41-28 of 404<o:p></o:p> > Bogotá D.C., Colombia<o:p></o:p> > Tel:  +57 (1) 215 7812 / 635 9048<o:p></o:p> > Fax: +57 (1) 635 9015 / 236 2309 <o:p></o:p> > Mobile: +57 (3) 15 296 0662<o:p></o:p> > e-mail: carlos.pardo@sutp.org <o:p></o:p> > Página: <a href="www.sutp.org">www.sutp.org</a> <o:p></o:p> > - Visite nuestra nueva sección de Latinoamérica y el Caribe en<o:p></o:p> > <a href="http://www.sutp.org/esp/espindex.htm">http://www.sutp.org/esp/espindex.htm</a> <o:p></o:p> > - Únase al grupo de discusión de Transporte Sostenible en <o:p></o:p> > Latinoaméricaenviando un correo a  sutp-lac-<o:p></o:p> > subscribe@gruposyahoo.com <o:p></o:p> > <o:p></o:p> > <o:p></o:p> > -----Original Message-----<o:p></o:p> > From: Lee Schipper [schipper@wri.org]<o:p></o:p> > Subject: Re: Times article on visiting Bogota leaves out <o:p></o:p> > Transmilenio! How<o:p></o:p> > USCentric -- write letters !<o:p></o:p> > <o:p></o:p> > Enrique once made the point, however, that the 2nd line in place<o:p></o:p> > should have some appeal to the well off. Why not something that does <o:p></o:p> > serve tourists, which has the additional benefit of broadcasting <o:p></o:p> > the success to the rest of the world!<o:p></o:p> > <o:p></o:p> > >>> Lloyd Wright <lfwright@usa.net> 2/18/2006 1:41:38 PM >>><o:p></o:p> > Thanks for the article Lee.<o:p></o:p> > <o:p></o:p> > Yes, it is a major oversight that the author was oblivious to<o:p></o:p> > TransMilenio. <o:p></o:p> > However, in some ways this is partially understandable.  TM is not <o:p></o:p> > really that<o:p></o:p> > relevant from a tourist's standpoint.  Bogotá actually has a lot of<o:p></o:p> > attractions for national and overseas visitors, but many are not <o:p></o:p> > reallyaccessible from TM.  (Of course, it seems hard to believe <o:p></o:p> > that the author<o:p></o:p> > missed the Museo de Oro station).<o:p></o:p> > <o:p></o:p> > Probably from a tourist's perspective, a TM corridor on Carrera<o:p></o:p> > Séptima would be more useful.  Or what about even a proper connection straight to the airport terminals?  I often wonder if tourism should be more of a consideration in corridor selection.  Of course, I also realise that<o:p></o:p> > corridors<o:p></o:p> > to low-income areas should be the first priority, as has been the <o:p></o:p> > case to<o:p></o:p> > date.<o:p></o:p> > <o:p></o:p> > Saludos,<o:p></o:p> > <o:p></o:p> > Lloyd<o:p></o:p> > <o:p></o:p> > ------ Original Message ------<o:p></o:p> > Received: Fri, 17 Feb 2006 08:31:23 PM EST<o:p></o:p> > From: "Lee Schipper" <schipper@wri.org><o:p></o:p> > Subject: Times article on visiting Bogota  leaves out  <o:p></o:p> > Transmilenio!   HowUS<o:p></o:p> > Centric -- write letters !<o:p></o:p> > <o:p></o:p> > Letters shoudl be addressed to letters@nytimes.com   -- the writer <o:p></o:p> > evenadvocates hiring a taxi for the day but not ridig the bus!<o:p></o:p> > <o:p></o:p> > Como se llama "harumph" en espanol?<o:p></o:p> > <o:p></o:p> > Colombia<o:p></o:p> > More on Colombia<o:p></o:p> > Bogotá Is Not Just for the Brave Anymore<o:p></o:p> > <o:p></o:p> Article Tools Sponsored By<o:p></o:p> By SETH KUGEL<o:p></o:p> Published: February 12, 2006<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA, the fourth largest city in South America, with seven million residents, is home to a vibrant restaurant scene, world-class museums and a charming colonial quarter. It is the country's capital and intellectual hub, an enlightened, pedestrian-friendly city with 75 miles of urban arteries turned over to cyclists and walkers every Sunday. And to top it off, the weather is temperate, with highs in the 60's year round. Skip to next paragraph Readers<o:p></o:p> Forum: Travel in the News<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> In other words, Bogotá is a great place to visit.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> No, seriously, it is.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Violent reputations can take a long time to shake - just ask tourism officials in Beirut or the Bronx - but Bogotá has been shaking hard for about a decade. Several mayors engineered an urban rebirth; since taking office in 2002 the Colombian president, Álvaro Uribe, cracked down on violence. Unesco awarded it the City for Peace Prize for 2002-3, given for developing "a true urban conviviability," and named it the World Book Capital in 2007. And in January, the United States State Department issued a Travel Warning for Colombia that said, "Violence in recent years has decreased markedly in most urban centers, including Bogotá."<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> "The situation in Bogotá seems to be greatly improved in terms of security and public safety from five years ago, and the atmosphere is much more relaxed," said Marshall Louis, a spokesman for the United States Embassy there.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Bogotá can be dangerous, to be sure, but the primary concern is theft, not kidnappings. And extortion-related kidnappings are becoming rarer across the nation, with the government reporting a 51 percent drop: 369 in 2005, down from 747 in 2004.They remain far more frequent in rural areas.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Visitors should avoid public transportation and call taxis instead of hailing possibly unauthorized cars. Hire a taxi for the day if possible; it is relatively cheap (12,000 pesos an hour - just over $5 at 2,300 pesos to the dollar), eliminates waiting and the driver can serve as an informal tour guide. Do not wear fancy jewelry and keep a hand on your wallet in crowds.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Once you get the safety drill down, the city is yours to explore. It is laid out in an easy-to-navigate grid of carreras and calles. Here are a few places you'll find:<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> The Gold Museum (Museo del Oro, Calle 16, 5-41 - meaning between Carreras 5 and 6, No. 41; phone 57-1-343-2222; entrance 2,500 pesos) with its 34,000 pre-Columbian gold items. The Botero Museum (Calle 11, No. 4-21, 57-1-343-1223), a collection donated by the Colombian painter and sculptor Fernando Botero, including 123 of his own works and others by Picasso, Monet, Renoir and the like. La Candelaria, a colonial neighborhood of steep streets that is practically a museum in itself.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Then there are the fine restaurants in the hot new restaurant district known as the Zona G, and those with a more edgy feel in the Bosque Izquierdo neighborhood. And romantic Usaquén, a small town swallowed up by the fashionable northern reaches of the city, has excellent restaurants, live music venues and a Sunday flea market. (For an introduction to the city see<o:p></o:p> <a href="www.english.bogotaturismo.gov.co">www.english.bogotaturismo.gov.co</a>.)<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Colombian food, largely unknown to Americans, has plenty to offer: steaks; corncakes known as arepas; cheese buns called almojábanas; and the Bogotano specialty, a chicken, potato and avocado stew called ajiaco, seasoned with guascas leaves. Where to find the best ajiaco is a matter for debate, but to start, there's Casa Vieja (Avenida Jiménez, No. 3-62, 57-1-334-8908, and two other locations); and on weekends, Entrepués, north of the city (Carretera Central del Norte, kilometer 23, vía Sopó, 57-1-865-0020).<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Bogotá is a typical Andean high-altitude polluted city-in-a-bowl, so physical beauty is not its forte. But taking the funicular (at Carrera 2 and Calle<o:p></o:p> 21)<o:p></o:p> to the top of Monserrate hill is a must, along with a visit to the Museo del Oro and Plaza Bolívar (the requisite central-plaza-with-cathedral). Sports fans will want to check out a soccer game at El Campín stadium, where both Millonarios and Santa Fé play (at Calle 57 Avenida 30, 57-1-315-8726; tickets 8,000 to 30,000 pesos). In January or February, go to the bullfights at the Plaza de Santamaría (Carrera 6, No. 26-50, 57-1-334-1482 for tickets, which are 60,000 to 380,000 pesos).<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> There is as much to do just beyond the city limits, in the lovely rural surroundings that Bogotanos call the Sabana. Rustic restaurants with traditional food abound, and 30 miles from the city in Zipaquirá is the popular Salt Cathedral, literally a cathedral carved from a salt mine.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> And then there's Andrés Carne de Res in Chía (Calle 2, No. 11a-56, 57-1-863-7880), a restaurant in name but really a riotously decorated spectacle of art and music and eccentricity (check out <a href="www.andrescarnederes.com">www.andrescarnederes.com</a>, to get an idea).The endless menu is heavy on the beef (that's what Carne de Res means, after all) but they also serve everything from ajiaco to banana splits. Those wanting relative calm should eat in the afternoon; those going at night should go early to get a table, and stay late as the mayhem (eat, drink, dance, dance on tables) ensues.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> The Andrés experience is representative of what the world misses out on by not going to Colombia: it manages to be profound, spellbinding, beautiful, tumultuous, confusing and fattening all at once. <o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> </div> </body> </html>