Mobility is about so much more than transport in the global south
– African and Latin American city exchange in Bogota, Colombia
– African and Latin American city exchange in Bogota, Colombia
22-26 October 2022, Bogota, Colombia: It is easy to become despondent about mobility challenges, particularly in the global south, with so many demanding pressures on cities and their people. Hence, the power of connecting with similar realities and contexts to find innovative solutions and inspiration to tackle one’s own. What is more, once a mobility challenge is tackled, solutions to other problems can be found. After all, mobility is not just about moving people or goods from point A to point B, it is a tool to experience and build our cities collectively.
A recent exchange for African and Latin American cities which took place in Bogota from 22 to 26 October provided an opportunity for a small delegation from Dar es Salaam, Kigali, Quito, Montevideo and Belo Horizonte to engage with the Bogota context and reflect on their own challenges. The experience included a mix of activities ranging from the iconic Sunday’s Ciclovia (which shuts down 100km of streets to motorized traffic every week), the relatively new cable car TransMicable and a private sector initiative to use bicycles for last mile deliveries; through to traveling in the daily heavy traffic and having conversations about the individual experience of vulnerable populations like domestic workers in Bogota. The immersion was only partial as time was limited; nevertheless, there were powerful points that emerged in the course of the exchange which highlight the benefits of tackling transport challenges and the potential of South-South exchange. |
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