Bogota Security Secretary reacts to Guardian publication

Despite the policies continued by the Bogotá administrations to promote the massive use of bicycles as an alternative and sustainable means of transport, the British newspaper The Guardian found a reality that does not coincide with the official enthusiasm: the perception of insecurity is high for city bicusers.

The article points to Bogotá as the world capital of death for cyclists, statement that caught the attention of the Secretary of District Security, Hugo Acero, who rejected the claim:

It is completely unfair, I think they mix figures and do not make proper use of them.

Likewise, Acero explained that they are working to improve safety conditions for cyclists with the repair of the bike paths with the IDU; the Public Services Unit, in terms of lighting; and also with the Metropolitan Police, with the increase of the guardians of the bicycle lane.

The data of the Secretary of Security of Bogotá

Acero explained that between January and September 2019, 54 cyclists died in traffic accidents and in that same period of 2020 the figure was 39, that is, it fell by 28 percent.

Regarding the data on deaths of citizens in general that occurred in the middle of robberies, These indicate that between January and September 2019 64 people died, compared to 44 in the same period of 2020 that is a decrease of 31%.

Of these 44 cases, three were cyclists. In two of these cases the authorities have already captured the alleged perpetrators and one is under investigation. The first case was that of the nurse Yenny Cerquera, which occurred on May 17 on a street in the town of Bosa Porvenir. Two people were prosecuted for these events.

Faced with this crime, it should be remembered that the Attorney General’s Office appointed a specialized prosecutor against bicycle theft and the Police increased the number of patrol cars to more than 550 who travel and take care of the bike paths in the city.

The panorama of The Guardian about cyclists in Bogotá

The note, written by Joe parkin daniels, a reporter located in the Colombian capital, affirms that During 2020, 8,023 cases of bicycle theft were registered in the city, which is an increase in 36% compared to 2019.

The insecurity faced by bicycle users coincides with a boom in the use of bicycles in Colombia, as well as the appearance of a scene made up of different actors who take advantage of the informal economy to set up improvised workshops on bike paths and corridors to help defuse cyclists on your technical and security needs.

Parkin daniels tells how in one of these they teach self-defense classes to prevent the theft of vehicles: “The most effective use of violence is to avoid a physical confrontation, but if it comes to that, the D-lock is your best friend. Hold that in one hand and use the bike frame as a shield with the other. “. The use of the bicycle insurance, the accompaniment between bike users, not using unpopulated routes or with low light at night, are other recommendations that cyclists share in each route of 500 kilometers of bike paths that is in the capital.

Despite the fact that the city’s network of bike paths is internationally recognized, threats to the life of bicusers are the daily bread in Bogotá. Criminal gangs roam freely in the sectors of Usaquén, Suba, Kennedy, Tunjuelito and Ciudad Bolívar, reported by the authorities as red spots for theft of bicycles. Despite the above, the capital was ranked 12 out of 20 as one of the cities with the best conditions for cycling, being the only non-European city in the ranking made by Copenhagenize Index.

Another factor that stimulates the use of this alternative means of transport has been the pandemic: displacements in Bogotá increased by 40% due to partial closuress of transportation systems during the months of isolation lived in the country. This factor has influenced the implementation of new cycle routes, alternating with traditional routes, whose length of 100 kilometers has served to massify this service, but also to increase the risks to the safety of cyclists.

What has not stopped bike users in their protection measures: apart from using their bicycle frame and their insurance, some have begun to carry bats, mittens, and even sharps to deter attackers. Especially, if it is about journeys in places that are difficult for your safety. This has generated an unprecedented “esprit de corps”Among the cyclists, who responded en masse to the death of one of their own, José Antonio Duarte, 56, a watchman, run over by a driver on a bridge in Chía last September.

The reactions to this death, led by the only Colombian Tour de France champion, the cyclist Egan Bernal, They are an example of how this sector is aware of the difficulties it faces every time it goes out to pedal. The report of The Guardian concludes in the need to find security and coexistence solutions for bicusers of Bogotá, one of the most distinctive of the capital of the republic.

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