The Dutch Embassy will hold their fifth annual orange-themed ‘ciclovia’, a city cycle day, which promotes sustainable development and the use of bicycles, on Sunday April 27 in Bogota.
Together with the District Institute of Recreation and Sport (IDRD), the Dutch Embassy aims to draw attention to the green economy, as well as a safer transport system.
Holland is renowned for its use of the bicycle; in the cities of Amsterdam and The Hague up to 70% of all journeys are made by bike, and there are more bicycles than residents in The Netherlands, according to the BBC.
MORE: Dutch National Day turns Bogota’s roads orange
The Dutch Ambassador to Colombia, Robert van Embden, is a staunch promoter of cycling in the city, and will lead the ciclovia cycle tour.
The embassy announced that the orange ciclovia aims to “show the use of the bicycle as a representative element of Dutch culture,” as well as how the bicycle contributes to sustainable development.
In an interview with Colombia Reports, spokeswoman Berber van der Woude explained that the infrastructure of Bogota, a city that closes 200 kilometers of road each Sunday and public holiday for cyclists, walkers and skaters, is perfect for an event like the orange ciclovia.
“The Bogota ciclovia is also a great opportunity to illustrate the good relations between Colombia and the Netherlands,” she added.
MORE: Cycling is best in Bogota
Bogota’s orange ciclovia is held in conjunction with Holland’s King’s Day, where the country celebrates their biggest festival of the year in honor of their monarch’s birthday.
2014 is the fifth consecutive year that the orange-themed ciclovia has been held in Colombia’s capital, and hundreds of people are expected to take part, including tourists, members of the Dutch community, district and governmental representatives and the general public. Last year’s event saw around 350 cyclists.
Participants are invited to decorate themselves and their bikes with anything orange – the national color of Holland – with a prize of a new orange bike to the best dressed cyclist.
Throughout the day there will also be a series of activities surrounding the importance of the use of bicycles, and the closing event will involve a concert from the famous Dutch trumpet player Maite Hontelé, well known in Colombia for her salsa music, and Colombian musician Juancho Valencia.
Those without a bicycle will be able to hire one at various locations around Bogota.
Sources
- Interview with Berber van der Woude at the Dutch Embassy
- Ciclovía Naranja en Bogotá (Dutch Embassy in Colombia)
- Hoy, la ciclovia se pinta de naranja (Bogota Humana)
- Why is cycling so popular in the Netherlands? (BBC)
