Bogota’s roads were engulfed in a sea of orange Sunday, as part of the celebrations for Queen’s Day, the national holiday of the Netherlands.
The annual Orange Bikeway hit Colombia’s capital for the third time, with this years event led by Mayor Gustavo Petro.
Petro took the opportunity to promote bicycle travel in the city as a vehicle to promote climate change and safer roads for children, saying, “Because it does not pollute, the bicycle is the best ally of modern man.”
“The intensive use of bicycles as a primary tool of mobility is essential if we want to combat climate change and keep our children safe and bequeath them a better planet, country and city.” He added.
{japopup type=”image” content=”pics/2012/mphoto/naranja1.jpg” title=”Third annual Orange Bikeway, Bogota” }
The event was organized by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Bogota, which said up to 450 cyclists participated.
Ambassador of the Netherlands in Colombia Marion Kappeyne was pleased with the turnout and support of the city government and also took the opportunity to promote a mode of transport which is a national obsession in her home country.
Kappeyne said, “For the embassy it is very important to show that people can move safely and quietly by cycling as it is a very good means of transport for Bogota.”
“I am glad to know that every day there are more people in Bogota who are transported daily by bicycle and that local government policies provide the conditions to encourage this,” she added.