My personal interest in cycling is due to me being a proud daily cyclist for years, both in Paris, London and rural Europe. After many weeks cycling here, I would conclude that the roads in Bogot\u00e1 don\u2019t feel any more dangerous; if anything they\u2019re bigger and motorists are calmer!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Colture - See places through the happiness glasses
\n\u00a9 Photograph by Joanna Zell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
My personal interest in cycling is due to me being a proud daily cyclist for years, both in Paris, London and rural Europe. After many weeks cycling here, I would conclude that the roads in Bogot\u00e1 don\u2019t feel any more dangerous; if anything they\u2019re bigger and motorists are calmer!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Colture - See places through the happiness glasses
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I can admit to two downsides of cycling in Bogot\u00e1: firstly, the pollution. Many people wear masks over their mouth and nose in an attempt to protect themselves from car and bus emissions. The city has recently started sanctioning the use of personal cars heavily, but with such heavy affluence of taxis and dirty old buses, the fumes are really tangible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Colture - See places through the happiness glasses
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Final\ncomments<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
I can admit to two downsides of cycling in Bogot\u00e1: firstly, the pollution. Many people wear masks over their mouth and nose in an attempt to protect themselves from car and bus emissions. The city has recently started sanctioning the use of personal cars heavily, but with such heavy affluence of taxis and dirty old buses, the fumes are really tangible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Colture - See places through the happiness glasses
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Don\u2019t forget, Bogot\u00e1 is a city at 2,600 meters above sea level\u2026 that\u2019s the altitude of a small mountain in the Alps, and twice as big as the tallest mountain in the UK! Physical exertion at high altitude requires a high level of cardio\u2026 you get tired quicker! I thought I had good cardio when I came to Colombia but these guys are real pros! This gives you an idea why so many world-class Colombian cyclists get through the Tour de France<\/a> \u2013 because training at altitude is hard!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Colture - See places through the happiness glasses
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Parking\nyour bike is easy and safe during the day. There are carparks (parqueaderos) on\nevery other street or below every shopping and cultural centre which all have\nbike ranks, where you tend to pay around 500 pesos (15 cents)\/hour. Many bars\nand sports centres have big hooks in the ceiling either inside or outside to\nhang your bike. I\u2019ve also found that leaving your bike locked to a post with a\nbasic bike chain (purchased from any bike shop for 10.000-50.000 COP, 3-15 USD)\nin a busy street in the day is low-risk. For overnight storage, most houses\nhave a small carpark, local or enclosed terrace for bikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u00a9 Photographs by Joanna Zell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Colture - See places through the happiness glasses
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There\u2019s a\nbike for every price range! You can find a decent second-hand bike from 200.000\nCOP (60 USD), or spend up to 1.000.000 COP (300 USD). Strangely, I have noticed\nmany Colombians have a very non-European concept that buying something\nsecond-hand doesn\u2019t reduce the price \u2013 if anything they think it is worth more\nafter a few years of use! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Parking\nyour bike is easy and safe during the day. There are carparks (parqueaderos) on\nevery other street or below every shopping and cultural centre which all have\nbike ranks, where you tend to pay around 500 pesos (15 cents)\/hour. Many bars\nand sports centres have big hooks in the ceiling either inside or outside to\nhang your bike. I\u2019ve also found that leaving your bike locked to a post with a\nbasic bike chain (purchased from any bike shop for 10.000-50.000 COP, 3-15 USD)\nin a busy street in the day is low-risk. For overnight storage, most houses\nhave a small carpark, local or enclosed terrace for bikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u00a9 Photographs by Joanna Zell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Colture - See places through the happiness glasses
\n\u00a9 Photograph by Joanna Zell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s a\nbike for every price range! You can find a decent second-hand bike from 200.000\nCOP (60 USD), or spend up to 1.000.000 COP (300 USD). Strangely, I have noticed\nmany Colombians have a very non-European concept that buying something\nsecond-hand doesn\u2019t reduce the price \u2013 if anything they think it is worth more\nafter a few years of use! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Parking\nyour bike is easy and safe during the day. There are carparks (parqueaderos) on\nevery other street or below every shopping and cultural centre which all have\nbike ranks, where you tend to pay around 500 pesos (15 cents)\/hour. Many bars\nand sports centres have big hooks in the ceiling either inside or outside to\nhang your bike. I\u2019ve also found that leaving your bike locked to a post with a\nbasic bike chain (purchased from any bike shop for 10.000-50.000 COP, 3-15 USD)\nin a busy street in the day is low-risk. For overnight storage, most houses\nhave a small carpark, local or enclosed terrace for bikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u00a9 Photographs by Joanna Zell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Colture - See places through the happiness glasses
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Twice I\nhave asked taxi-drivers if they cycle and they replied yes, every weekend!\nRecently when my bike chain came off the street, an ambulant street vendor came\nover to discuss with me that my wheel was screwed in slightly too close and we\nmanaged to chat about bike repairs in broken Spanish for a fair while!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u00a9 Photograph by Joanna Zell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Practicalities\nof buying and using your bike in the city<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Bogot\u00e1\"](\"https:\/\/colture.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Cycling-in-Bogota\u0301-7.jpg\")
![\"Bike](\"https:\/\/colture.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Cycling-in-Bogota\u0301-6.jpg\")
![\"Guy](\"https:\/\/colture.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Cycling-in-Bogota\u0301-5.jpg\")
![\"Sunday](\"https:\/\/colture.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Cycling-in-Bogota\u0301-4.jpg\")