Join Despacio for a study tour of Bogotá, Colombia

home of the astonishing Ciclovia, one of the world’s most extensive bikeway networks, and a bike culture unlike any you’ve seen. The tour runs from April 7-11, offering participants an intensive, hands-on look at bike infrastructures, policies, and culture in the Colombian capital. The tour can be combined with a visit to Santiago, Chile, for the World Bike Forum taking place March 31-April 5. Despacio will be in Santiago and will offer a free one-day session for those participating in the Bogota tour.

Why Bogotá?

Bicycle planners and promoters around the world often look to European capitals like Copenhagen and Amsterdam for inspiration. For larger and developing cities, however, Bogotá (and Santiago) may offer more useful lessons and points of comparison. Bogotá is internationally renowned for bicycle planning and culture. It boasts the largest bikeway network in Latin America and a bicycle mode share of around 6%, equivalent to over 600,000 trips per day. Santiago, meanwhile, was chosen to host this year’s World Bike Forum because of its history of bicycle activism and a growing bike infrastructure.

What will the course cover?

The Study Tour will take place over five days (April 7^th to 11^th), featuring presentations, interactive workshops, and field visits (on bike!) Topics include: transportation policy, bike infrastructure, citizen bike initiatives, private sector perspectives, and bike apps. That Sunday, we will also take a trip to the world-renowned Ciclovía, which brings a million Bogota residents out each week to exercise and enjoy car-free streets. Tour participants also attending the World Bike Forum in Santiago will enjoy a free preview of the city with Despacio and a local expert on March 30^th.

How can I participate?

If you are interested in the Bogotá Cycling Study Tour, please write Despacio at tours@despacio.org. The complete five-day program in both cities has a cost of $915 or $1095, depending on the choice of hotel. This cost includes all training activities, guided visits, local transportation, lodging in Bogotá, bike rentals, breakfasts, and group lunches. It does not include flights or dinners. The World Bike Forum in Santiago itself is free and open to all! Just RSVP at fmb5.org and they will send you more information.

 

Click here for more information on Despacio’s study tours.