Think about Bogota, the capital city of Colombia, and what comes to mind? Most likely violence, murder, mayhem, drugs, corruption, traffic, and smog. But think again. Two highly unconventional mayors, Enrique Penalosa and Antanus Mockus, have helped turn one of Latin America's most infamous cities into a model of progressive urban development.
By radically limiting car traffic, heavily funding alternative transportation, and advocating for (and enabling) biking and walking, the mayors have
given the city back to the people, and done the environment a good turn in the process.
"We had to build a city not for businesses or automobiles, but for children and thus for people," said Enrique Penalosa in a speech last year. "Instead of building highways, we restricted car use. ... We invested in high-quality sidewalks, pedestrian streets, parks, bicycle paths, libraries; we got rid of thousands of cluttering commercial signs and planted trees. ... All our everyday efforts have one objective: Happiness."
Antanus Mockus, a former mathematics professor known for such antics as hiring mimes to model civil behavior in the streets, was mayor from 1995 to 1998. As his successor from 1998 to 2001, Penalosa masterminded a new bus system and expanded the network of bike paths.
"We had to build a city not for businesses or automobiles, but for children and thus for people," said Enrique Penalosa in a speech last year. "Instead of building highways, we restricted car use. ... We invested in high-quality sidewalks, pedestrian streets, parks, bicycle paths, libraries; we got rid of thousands of cluttering commercial signs and planted trees. ... All our everyday efforts have one objective: Happiness."
Antanus Mockus, a former mathematics professor known for such antics as hiring mimes to model civil behavior in the streets, was mayor from 1995 to 1998. As his successor from 1998 to 2001, Penalosa masterminded a new bus system and expanded the network of bike paths.
Mockus was elected again last year -- after staging a ceremony in a public fountain to ask forgiveness for leaving the mayor's office in an unsuccessful bid for the presidency. Unconventional, no doubt about it, but in Colombia's capital city, that's par for the course.
Lisa Jones
Bicyling beautiful Bogota.
Photo: Institute for Transportation and Development Policy.
Excerpted from the Grist Magazine website, by permission of the publisher.
For more details, please visit: http://www.gristmagazine.com now in our LINKS section.
Lisa Jones
Bicyling beautiful Bogota.
Photo: Institute for Transportation and Development Policy.
Excerpted from the Grist Magazine website, by permission of the publisher.
For more details, please visit: http://www.gristmagazine.com now in our LINKS section.