Transport in Bogota

		In 1988, the most relevant descriptors of transportation in Bogotá were as follows: Slowness: Average traveling time for an ordinary journey in Bogotá: 1 hour and 10 minutes. Inefficiency: Very long public service routes, with ald buses and low-occupancy levels. Inequality: 95% of the road network crowded by private cars totaling about 1,000,000 vehicles transporting merely 19% of the whole population. Contamination: 70% of particles emitted to the atmosphere came from motorcars. Danger: A high car-accident rate, as well as a significant number of casualties for the same reason.   In order to introduce a structural change in these transportation conditions, the local administration implemented an integral mobility strategy; it envisaged actions leading to promote non-motorized mobilization by improving and creating public spaces, new pedestrian zones, and 300 kilometers of cycle paths called (“ciclo-rutas”). In addition, plate number-based restrictions for the use of private vehicles during peak hours were established, together with measures like higher car-parking rates, and compulsory car-free dates on certain holidays (“dia sin carro”) among others; and finally, the development of a unique and integrated mass-transportation system: the TransMilenio.     The ultimate objective was at that time and continues to be bettering the quality of life of Bogota´s inhabitants and enhancing the city´s competitiveness.