Bike paths in Bogotá


Bogotá is the city with the most extensive and comprehensive network of bike paths in the Americas, with a total of as of 2022. The network was initially designed and built during the administration of Superior Mayor of Bogotá Enrique Peñalosa and is one of the most extensive in the world.
The design of the network took into consideration the morphology and topography of the city. The network is integrated with the city's TransMilenio bus rapid transit system.

Design

The design of the network took into consideration the morphology and topography of the city; from north to south, Bogotá has a flat topography and from east to west it has varying degrees of incline.
A mesh concept was applied for the theoretical plan of the network because it presented greater versatility and adaptation given that the road network was designed as a grid plan with streets going from south to north and from east to west. The network is also integrated with the TransMilenio bus system, which has bicycle parking facilities.

Network hierarchy

A network hierarchy was determined following the criteria above.
  • Main Network: connects the main centers of the city in a direct and expeditious manner, for instance connecting the main work and education centers with the most populated residential areas, and receiving the flow from secondary networks.
  • Secondary Network: leads riders to the main network, it connects housing centers and attraction centers and parks with the main network.
  • Complementary Network: links and provides continuity to the network. It consists of additional bike paths that are required to complete the mesh system and to distribute bicycle traffic in specific areas. It includes a recreational network, local networks and a system of long green areas.

Impact on city life

Since the construction of the bike paths, bicycle use has quintupled in the city. There were 635,431 trips made daily in Bogotá by bicycle in 2015, corresponding to a modal share of 4.28%. A large portion of this use is in poorer southern areas.
The bike paths are an ongoing project. Many segments are still not connected to the main network. In some parts, they are placed on the sidewalk in a way that puts pedestrians and cyclists in competition.

Routes

As of 2022, Bogotá had more than of bike paths with various projects under construction and design to expand the network, such as CicloAlameda Medio Milenio, Corredor Verde de la 7ma, and TransMilenio Avenida 68. As of 2023, Bogotá had of bike paths.
In addition to being the most extensive city network in the Americas, it is one of the most extensive in the world.