Bogotá's Bike Paths Network

History:
1. Population grew from 100K to 7M in last 100 years
2. Hated by everyone About 10 yrs ago for lack of infrastructure, equity and security. No self-esteem and hope.
3. Quality of life was worse in Columbia and Latin America
4. Chaotic bus system owned and operated by individual entities competing with each others (racing and blocking each others, driving on sidewalks)
5. Major avenues didn't have sideways but parking spaces

Vision:
1. Build public spaces around public transportation.
2. Public spaces are for everyone, including the poor.
3. Sustainable urban design for social justice.
4. Instead of favoring new highways for a small population with cars, directed money to serve extremely poor citizens.

Transmilenio
1. A rapid transit system.
2. A stopgap measure for the lack of a metro system.
3. Catchy name. TransMilenio means moving from on millennium to another.
4. Repackaged to be sexy (colors and signs).
5. "Trunk-fed" bus system.
6. 160ppl buses cover peripheral areas on exclusive bus lanes as main trunk lines, and 99ppl buses on feeder routes.
7. Stations are elevated in the center of avenues, with sliding glass doors. Extra lanes on the sides for passing through buses.
8. Tracked by satellites to ensure full capacity all time on buses. Maximize infrastructure and maintenance, and reduce emissions.
9. Absorbed individual bus operators and owners into the system.
10. Ridership in 2006 was 1M.

Transmilenio

Sidewalks
1. Wide sidewalks with ramps for wheelchairs.
2. Eliminated parking spots.
3. Travel restrictions on cars with certain licence-plate numbers during peak hours.

Bike paths
1. 300km long protected bike.
2. Follow the urban grid of the city.
3. Making a statement saying bikes are as important as cars.
4. Connect to school, parks, libraries, and dangerous neighborhoods.
5. Connect TransMilenio.
6. "Car Free Days" on Sundays. 120km of major avenues are closed for a 7 hours for pedestrians and bikers.
7. Bicycle use increased 5 times.
8. Between 300,000 and 400,000 trips made daily, with a large portion in poorer areas.

Bike Path Conceptual Diagram

Social Benefits
1. Encourage neighbors coming out to know each others. Crimes decreased.
2. 70% drop in murder rate in 10 yrs.
2. Each bus rider saves 200hrs/year and 10% of income because of free transfers.
3. Changed attitude, regained city pride and confidence in the future.

Criticisms:
1. Restrictions on cars don't help shop owners.
2. Pickpocketing on TransMilenio and at stations.
3. Buses and stations are often packed even during non-rush hours.

Sources:
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bogot%C3%A1%27s_Bike_Paths_Network
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bogot%C3%A1
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TransMilenio
4. PBS E-squared: Bogota: Building a Sustainable City
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j3FVPeTwoU&feature=related