Manifesto for safe spaces for walking launched in Colombia
Local Actions winner Maryfely Rincon and her team from Dispacio created a Manifesto titled “Manifiesto Ciudadano: Peticiones Por el Derecho a Caminar la Ciudad” or “Citizen Manifesto Petitions for the Right to Walk in the City” within the framework of the ‘Pedestrians First’ Project.
According to the team, the Manifesto is a compilation of the local citizens’ experiences and demands for safer roads in the city of Bogota, Colombia. The citizens involved were comprised of people of all ages, each advocating for safer and more comfortable walking experiences for road users of the city. They also raised their desire for greater community participation from civil organisations, especially youth-led ones.
Included in the document are requests and suggestions that would help make Bogota more safer and more walkable;
Implement a collaborative registration system or a “citizen suggestion form” to accurately identify and categorise infrastructure that is already poor in condition. According to the document, this would be useful for leaders and departments in charge of maintaining road infrastructure and public space.
Establish mechanisms that allows citizens to have an overview of local projects focused on construction supervision and maintenance of pedestrian infrastructure with special attention to areas inhabited by lower-income communities.
Strengthen the participation of the most vulnerable groups who use walking as their main mode of transportation in the creation and development of programs linked to infrastructure and pedestrian mobility.
Implement actions aimed at addressing street harassment, which especially affects women and girls while they walk through the city at any time of the day.
Strengthen dissemination of pedestrian mobility initiatives led by the Bicycle and Pedestrian Subdirectorate to establish a closer link with the communities and encourage citizen participation in the design and implementation of measures to improve the pedestrian experience in the city.
Increase investment in infrastructure and signages specifically aimed at improving accessibility in public spaces to guarantee comfortable and safe mobility, especially for older people and people with disabilities.
Program pedestrian traffic light cycles that give priority to pedestrians while using the new programming as an educational tool to raise awareness among drivers about the vulnerability of pedestrians and the associated risks on the roads.
Expand the “Ciempies, Safe Paths” program to more schools in Bogotá to establish safe walking routes for school access in other locations in the city.
Develop a prioritisation strategy for the maintenance and protection of platforms, giving priority to areas close to medical centers, educational institutions, and other essential services focused on vulnerable users.
Apply supervision, education, and pedagogy measures that target cyclists and motor vehicle drivers to promote respect and priority for pedestrians on city streets.
Strengthen initiatives aimed at maintaining cleanliness throughout the city through beautification projects and more effective waste management to promote appreciation of public spaces intended for pedestrian mobility.