Young bicycle representatives in Bogota implement activities to promote the bicycle use

Daniela’s project, Youth Influencing Bike Policy Change in Bogota, focuses on strengthening the capacities of the Local Bicycle Board Members (Consejeros Locales de la Bicicleta) and provide them with the tools to better advocate for better bicycle policies in Colombia to decision-makers. 

Throughout the month of June, Daniela and her team encouraged bicycle board members to make teams and implement an activity in their territories in order to participate in an "internal competition". The best action would win a monetary prize to keep implementing other bicycle related activities with their community

Five teams from different city districts participated in implementing activities related to the promotion of bicycle use by women, children or through "rodadas" (bicycle bike tours) to identify road safety problems in their areas.

The city districts included the following: Puente Aranda, Suba, Kennedy, San Cristobal and Rafael Uribe Uribe.

For example, the team of Puente Aranda implemented an activity that was to support and raise awareness of the rights of women. The activity was commemorated by a number of activities which include cycling, bike registrations, pet deworming, creation of artwork on culture, and a chess circuit led by the national police. 

Through the cycling activity, Daniela and her team and her team highlighted cycling and how it is an enjoyable and sustainable mode of transport for road users including women. The cycling path went around Bogota, beginning within the Graffiti District in Bogota to the Parque La Ponderosa.

The event gathered the full capacity of 60 people where 35 people participated in the activities.