Youth of Bogotá, Colombia, pave a path for more inclusive cycling culture.

Over the past four years, a series of Local Actions projects led by young leaders in Bogotá have underscored the importance of fostering a safe, sustainable, and inclusive cycling culture.

The journey began in 2021 with the project "Youth Influencing Bike Policy Change in Bogotá," spearheaded by Laura Daniela Gomez, a Local Actions Winner and Project Manager at Despacio, who is now the Capacity Development Manager at YOURS - Youth for Road Safety. This initiative provided the Local Bicycle Board, known as Consejeros Locales de la Bicicleta, with essential tools to advocate for improved bicycle policies through meaningful youth participation.

Key outcomes from this project included promoting bicycle use through youth and women-friendly competitions, cycling incentives that motivated enthusiasts to implement their own projects, and creating a mural focusing on women's cycling experiences in the city.

The next year, during 2022, a team of young professionals from Despacio, led the latest Local Actions project for World Bicycle Day, aiming to spotlight youth-led bicycle promotion initiatives. These efforts included sharing data on bicycle-themed projects and highlighting significant projects like the 2022 initiative "Meaningful Cycling Actions with a Gender Approach in Bogotá." This project focused on enhancing road safety conditions with a gender perspective, empowering women and other vulnerable groups through mapping activities, and advocating for safer spaces for women and girls.

Through these efforts, a  Cycling Assessment Tool was developed and published, urging policymakers to enhance cyclists' journeys, particularly addressing women's safety.

Another project, "Bicicarga Bicilogistics," tested electro-assisted cargo bicycles as sustainable transportation alternatives for cargo companies. Financed by the World Bank Group and supported by various partners, this initiative addressed companies' needs in merchandise distribution, reducing operational inefficiencies and CO2 emissions. This project successfully demonstrated how sustainable solutions could reduce mobility problems and pollution, with the technical support of a Local Consultant and the operational implementation by Despacio.

These projects highlight the critical role of financing road safety efforts and integrating youth-oriented elements to achieve desired outcomes aligned with the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 targets. They also demonstrate how multi-sectoral collaborations can accelerate the implementation of sustainable solutions.

At YOURS, we recognise the importance of joint efforts with partners like TotalEnergies Foundation to continue promoting sustainable urban mobility and youth empowerment. "At TotalEnergies, we believe in the potential of innovative solutions to transform urban mobility. Supporting projects like these Local Actions in Colombia through the TotalEnergies Foundation program shows our dedication to fostering a future where young people are equipped to take charge of their challenges", said Olivier Rabier, Program Director, TotalEnergies Foundation.

Bogotá boasts a robust cycling culture, with a network of 550 km of permanent cycling infrastructure and 7% of total trips made by bicycle. However, significant challenges remain to ensure safe cycling, particularly for female cyclists. During 2022,, the city reported 81 cycling-related deaths, along with 10,753 cases of bicycle theft in 2020. Additionally, in 2017, there were 682 alleged sexual crimes on public streets against women.

Despite these challenges, Bogotá has been a pioneer in promoting the bicycle as a primary means of transportation since 1998. The city's aspiration to become the "bicycle capital of the world" is evident in its achievement of 7% of daily trips made by bicycle in 2023.

Photo from the International Road Assessment Programme

By partnering with dedicated allies and celebrating World Bicycle Day, we aim to inspire cities globally to embrace cycling as a key element of urban mobility, ensuring safer and more sustainable transportation for all.

Our collaborations with organisations like iRAP, Despacio, and TotalEnergies strengthen our efforts to work together for safer roads for everyone. Monica Olyslagers, Global Innovation Manager and Cities Specialist at iRAP, states, "CycleRAP is a valuable tool for creating safer roads for young cyclists. By identifying and addressing safety risks in bicycling infrastructure, we can make cycling easier and more enjoyable for young people, ultimately reducing road crashes, the leading cause of death for those aged 15-29."

Together, we can create a world where cycling is safe, accessible, and enjoyable for all, driving forward the goals of sustainable urban mobility.