Hundreds of demonstrators blocked roads in Colombia’s capital Bogotá Thursday to
protest the new ‘pico y placa’ system that seeks to diminish the number
of cars operating during rush hour. They say the new system is killing their
livelihood.
Bogotá mayor Samuel Moreno (Polo) extended the number of hours that drivers are not allowed to drive to 14 hours per week. The demonstrators, consisting mostly of people working in car repair shops, say the new rules are killing their businesses and claim sales have gone down 80 per cent since the new law took effect and demand it to be withdrawn.
According to authorities, clashes occured between protesters and riot police. There are no reports of injuries.