International Experiences
In Bogotá, Colombia, the city which has been the world leader in CicloRecreoVías, the event was first initiated 30 years ago, and today 120 kilometers of streets and roads throughout the city are closed off to motorized traffic every Sunday and public holiday, and are used, instead, by approximately two million people by foot, bicycle, or other method of non-motorized transport.
In Bogotá, as well as in Medellín (Colombia), Quito (Ecuador), Guadalajara (México) and several other cities in Latin America, the CicloRecreoVías have been a huge success, and their impressive, positive impact has led to massive acceptance by local citizens.
We should be clear that the closing of these streets every Sunday so that they can be used by people, not cars, on whatever form of non-motorized transport they choose, goes by different names in each country: in general, for example, in Colombia this event is called Ciclovía (a name which can be confusing in Chile because it doesn’t allude to the temporary occupation of streets, but rather to permanent bike lanes that are installed next to certain city streets for the express means of transporting individuals by bicycle). Additionally, in Ecuador the same activity is known as Ciclopaseo, while in México it is called Vía RecreActiva.
Ciclovía de Bogotá
- Average number of participants: 2 million people
- Extension: 120 kilometers
- Hours of operation: 7:00 to 14:00
- Days of operation: Every Sunday, and on public holidays
- Date of Inauguration: 7 June 1976
Ciclovía de Medellín
- Average number of participants: 37,000 people
- Extension: 29 kilometers
- Hours of operation: 7:00 to 14:00
- Days of operation: Every Sunday, public holidays, and on Tuesday and Thursday evenings
- Date of Inauguration: 1 November 1984
Ciclopaseo de Quito
- Average number of participants: 40,000 people
- Extension: 25 kilometers
- Hours of operation: 9:00 to 15:00
- Days of operation: Every other Sunday
- Date of Inauguration: 27 April 2003
Vía Recreactiva de Guadalajara
- Average number of participants: 100,000 people
- Extension: 22 kilometers
- Hours of operation: 8:00 to 14:00
- Days of operation: Every Sunday
- Date of Inauguration: 12 September 2004
Vía Recreactiva de Zapopan
- Extension: 11.4 kilometers
- Hours of operation: 8:00 to 14:00
- Days of operation: Every Sunday
- Date of Inauguration: 5 August 2007