Description
One of the biggest challenges facing planners and politicians is public transport, especially when so many systems are close to breaking point. The new system in Bogota in Colombia is being heralded as one of the best examples in the world. And much of it is down to the inspired leadership of former mayor, Enrique Penalosa. He gives us a guided tour of the city he has transformed. Bogota, with a population of about 7 million, has an unenviable reputation as a centre for kidnapping and cocaine. However, since the late 90’s, things have begun to change. As mayor between 1998 and 2001, Penalosa managed to turn Bogota into an international example of how to solve traffic problems and the pollution that goes with it. He was instrumental in introducing protected cycle lanes, a car free day, a rapid transit system that has been copied around the world and pedestrianised some of the city’s poorest areas. Penalosa now travels regularly to Australia, New York and Asia to talk to planning experts and politicians.