Ciclovía Bogotá

Every Sunday and on holidays the streets of Bogotá belong to people, not cars. Ciclovía means “cycleway” and during Ciclovía Bogotá, an average of 1.5 million people (20% of the population) ride, walk, run, and roll through the streets transformed into cycleways.

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Visit the Instituto Distrital de Recreación y Deporte (IDRD) website to download the map.

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The first Ciclovía was held in Bogotá on December 15, 1974, organized by Jaime Ortiz Mariño, an urban planner and architect. This year, Bogotá Ciclovía celebrated 50 years of active fun and enjoyment for people of all ages and abilities. What began with a small route has blossomed into multiple routes spanning over 120 kilometers through Bogotá’s neighbourhoods, creating a linear park for cyclists, runners, skaters and pedestrians. Inspired by cycling advocate Gil Penalosa, founder of 8-80 Cities and #Cities4Everyone, I wanted to experience it myself.

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Ciclovia isn’t just a route, it’s a day of fun! Our family enjoyed exploring Bogota, especially on the bike ride. There’s so much to see and do along the routes from aerobics classes, dance sessions, and recreational activities to parades and children’s play zones. There are food vendors and people selling all kinds of wares, and if you encounter any trouble, there are bike mechanics and medics along the route. It’s a fun day out for tourists and locals alike.

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Bogotá’s Ciclovía started a worldwide trend, inspiring weekly and monthly car-free streets in many cities including Paris, Mexico City, Lima Peru, Santiago, New York, San Francisco, Cape Town and Bangkok. Other cities feature seasonal or annual rides such as Toronto, London, Los Angeles, Sydney and Berlin. Let’s do them all!

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