Bogotá's Masked Cyclists

"I don't want to eat dust," explained this woman, a foreigner, in Teusaquillo. 

Sadly, many cyclists in Bogotá feel obliged to wear masks to try to protect themselves from air pollution. It's terribly unfair that we cyclists suffer because others - including environmental authorities - ignore the law!

How'd you like to be cycling near this smog-belching TransMilenio bus, which I spotted on the 'Eje Ambiental,' (the so-called 'Environmental Axis.')

To this masked cyclist, whom I met on Calle 26, near the Universidad Nacional, I noted that laws do exist here limiting vehicle emissions. But the guy wasn't hopeful. "But here the laws are ignored," he observed.

Wouldn't you hate to be caught riding behind this smog-belching bus? (I was there.)

These guys, who were just gassed by a TransMilenio bus, forgot to wear their masks today. 

Even on the car-free section of Ave. Septima, this woman masks herself.

 By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours

La Civlovia Naranja

Today the Dutch Embassy, perhaps the planet's most cycling nation per-capita, held its annual bike ride, called La Ciclovia Naranja, for which participants put on old timey clothes and dusted off their classic bicycles.

Here they are participating in the Recrovia aerobics in the Parque Nacional. Inconveniently, a half  hour later, the sky let loose with a downpour.

By Mike Ceaser of Bogotá Bike Tours

Juicing by Bike

If juice-making contributes significantly to global warming, this group, calling itself La Kasita, has the solution. They'd connected a bicycle to a blender beside the Parque Nacional along La Ciclovia. After about a minute of pedaling, the lulo, maracuya, strawberries or other fruit were converted into juice.

Then, however, a Ciclovia guardiana appeared and told the juicemakers that they couldn't make juices along La Ciclovia without a permit. So they had to close up and go away.


But how clean is human-generated energy? I suppose that depends on whether you're a carnivore or a vegetarian.

Pour it on!

Pedal power. 

'I'm sorry, but this isn't permitted without a license.'

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogota Bike Tours

A Cycle Lane Success

Mayor Gustavo Petro's pedestrianization of Ave. Septima during the day and his creation of a bicycle lane have notably increased the number of cyclists on the stretch of Ave. Septima from Plaza Bolivar north to Calle 25, where the street reopens to cars.

And, that's not only because the city is lending bikes to use on this stretch.

Besides the increased number of bicyclists, pedaling here's now definitely safer, more pleasant and less polluted.

I've also noticed a large proportion of female cyclists on the pedestrianized Ave. Septima. Generally in Bogotá almost all commuter cyclists are male.

But Petro is now under seige, by a campaign to revoke his mandate. If Petro goes, then the car-free Septima, which many retailers oppose, will likely end, too.

Four cyclists, one of them carrying his daughter home from school,
use the bike lane on the pedestrianized stretch of Ave. Septima. 

Less than ideal. Ice cream vendors find the bike lane useful.

However, after passing 25th St., the bike lane just ends and cyclists share the road with cars, trucks and buses again....

A bike chained to a pole. The whole car-free 24-block stretch lacks a single bike parking rack.

From 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. this stretch of Ave. Septima opens to motorized traffic,
but the bike lane remains. 

This garbage truck found the bike lane a convenient place to stop,
forcing a delivery cyclist onto the sidewalk.

No cycle lane here! Farther north on La Septima a cyclist battles his way amongst cars and buses.

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours

How to Make a Bicycle 'Ecological'

I spotted this 'ecological bicycle,' otherwise known as an electric motorcycle, the other day on the campus of the National University in Bogotá. The ownders of real bicycles parked nearby, of course, feel no need to make ecological claims.

All of which has me tempted to grab my own bicycle, add a battery, an electric motor and about 100 pounds to it, so that I can label it 'ecological.'

By Mike Ceaser of Bogotá Bike Tours

A Ride Down La Cicloruta de la Decima

The newish Cicloruta, or bike lane, on Carrera Decima was built as part of the expansion of the TransMilenio line down that avenue. It's far from perfect, but we should be thankful to the city for building it - and, hopefully, maintaining it.

This bike lane heads south, past some rough, low-income neighborhoods. It also passes several old hospitals which have seen better days, one of which is vacant and the subject of dispute, as well as many small businesses. This area is just south of the city center and the seat of government, and the city has hopes of revitalizing it - altho that would mean displacing many residents. 

The bike lane is well marked on this section. But note the cyclist who prefers the street.

Watch out for the posts! Here it's missing a section. 

 

No space for cyclists in this section. The bike lane reappears, and continues down toward the 20 de Julio neighborhood. 

A TransMilenio bus competes with traditional ones on Carrera Decima. 

The bike lane was built as part of the construction of a TransMilenio line down Carrera 10. The project is way behind schedule.

A car doesn't hesitate to stop blocking the lane. 

...nor did this van. 

A pole in the middle of the lane means a tight squeeze for this delivery rider. 

The lane takes one past several crumbling old hospitals, including one that's closed. The city government has promised to fund the hospitals. 

Where's the bike lane? At least the sidewalk's wide. 

Small struggling businesses, like this pawnshop, along Carrera Decima. 

The rough San Bernardino neighborhood on the avenue's other side. Wander in there, and you'll lose your bike - and a few other things, too. 

Like many parts of Bogotá, air pollution is a chronic problem in this area. Here, a trash pile burns.

...and buses smoke away. 

Note the smoke plume trailed by this bus. The Presidential Guard doesn't seem to care. 

North of Calle 8 the bike lane disappears, altho one can detour into Tercer Milenio Park for a few blocks. Cycling on this stretch of La Decima is difficult.

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours