As promised I will do this weeks assignment on the city I am in on Friday – Bogotá, Columbia
The travel books tell you that Bogotá has 300 KM of hike and bike trails but I have yet to see one. And in comparison to the size of this mountainside city that is not really very long or very useful as an transportation option. The city does not have a subway system but does have special double length busses that runs the length and breath of the city, including on the inside lanes of the freeways. There are pedestrian crossovers and covered designated stops for the exclusive use of these busses. Yesterday, we were museum hopping in an older section of town and the number of people on foot and the congestion of small private busses/private cars/ taxis was – well IMPRESIVE.
In the downtown area – my sampling - the preferred mode of transport were the small busses is all colors, blue, red, green, olive, black and multi colored – and by foot. Even the riot control police where on foot.
Bogotá has a tightly monitored and controlled law that limits the use of your private car. Kurt and Kybran cannot use their car on Tuesdays and Thursdays. So like this morning the two girls are walked to two separate schools and picked up on foot each afternoon. They live in an area close to Kurt’s office and to both the schools. Rain or shine, warm or cold this is the rule.
Even with this limited use law for private cars, the traffic is a horrendous mess, parking is limited and expensive, and pollution hangs like a gray cloud over the city. 
Amazing pictures! Fine job of showing us your vision of transportation, Thank you!
ReplyDeleteSO fascinating ...I'm so happy to have met you and to be in the group with you.
ReplyDeleteMore pictures of Bogata! Thanks for memories. And a good alternative transportation shoot. Although it did break my prediction that every shoot would have at least one bicycle. Ah well. Interesting traffic rule in Bogata!
ReplyDeleteSo interesting and such colorful photos.
ReplyDeleteBeautful pictures Ginger, although my poor brain got blocked from further contemplation when it reached the sentence about private car use being limited to certain days!
ReplyDeletePlease don't tell politicians here in Toronto about this idea!
WoW! Pollution! That makes me really scared to think that people have to breathe that in.
ReplyDeleteI like their blue and red bus, they're cute. Thanks for sharing your photos I feel like I've been to Bogota already :-)-
ReplyDeleteInteresting look at Bogota. I have never heard of a private car law. thanks for the look around town!
ReplyDeleteThat is a busy place! Thanks for sharing your pictures of the wonderful places you go! They are always so interesting!
ReplyDeleteMark I ran accross you comment about the bikes last night and noted that mine did not have any - I think there is too much traffic for bikes here - and the taxi drivers own the road.
ReplyDeleteBarry, this is not the first time I have come across this rule - it is the only way to really force our lazy butts to take the mass transit available. course here the ones with money just call a taxi - so don't know if it helps anyone but the taxi drivers.
it is interesting to note that if you call a taxi - you are given a number (code) and you don't get into the taxi unless they have your code... security is very tight and everyone plays the game.
you have to understand though that we see mostly the expat world and it is very different from the natives.
So very interesting Ginger! I think all cities should adapt those laws about car usage. It would be so good for the environment and the obesity crisis we have going in North America!
ReplyDeleteHow interesting! I love to see other places and how they live and commute! Great photos!
ReplyDeleteTwo posts for the price of one, and, they're both very artistic. Your photography talent is so apparent in your work.
ReplyDeleteI will certainly appreciate my drive around our town tomorrow. A traffic jam here is 10 cars.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of limiting cars in big cities. If people do not find alternative ways to get around, we are all doomed.
On a lighter note, I enjoyed you photos and commentary, as usual.
I have enjoyed my virtual travels with you, and look forward to more, my friend.
I do miss photos of your trainer, so I will be glad when you return so you can show us some more cute photos of your hunk trainer.
This was really a great one. I love seeing these pictures taken by you. What a way of transport here then. Usually when you think of busses you think of the bright yellow ones that you used to be forced to ride on the way to school but not anymore. Although busses are still primarily focused on bringing transportation to a large number of people at a time, they are now shifting their attention to building busses made for luxury and style. They are comfortable and fun to ride and drive.
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