Last July, the prestigious Time magazine chose Bogota as one of the best places to visit in the world due to its important advances in mobility, sustainability and wide cultural offer.
The publication detailed that the Colombian capital stands out for its efforts in favor of the environment, which places it among the best 50 cities. This recognition has prompted the metropolis to continue making important plans to optimize the way in which people move around.
In this regard, Bogotá authorities announced that with technical and financial support from the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), the city will focus on people with disabilities. The project, called ‘Bogota al derecho’, will be led by the District Mobility Secretariat and will have the necessary international support to move forward.
The initiative seeks to formulate a master plan for universal accessibility that implies having a clear route to achieve 100% universal accessibility in pedestrian infrastructure, connectivity with the Integrated Public Transportation System (SITP), the District Care System and the District Parks System.
According to figures released by the District, 245,000 people in Bogota have some type of disability, detailing that 41% use sidewalks, 11.7% use the Transmilenio and 11.6% use the SITP.
Inclusive Plan
After the presentation of the project, CAF’s President, Sergio Díaz-Granados emphasized that the initiative is a clear commitment of the city to an inclusive urban model that includes all people with disabilities.
“From CAF we intend that the model proposed in ‘Bogota al derecho’ is an example at the regional level and can be exported to other cities in Latin America and the Caribbean,” he added.
For her part, the District Director of International Relations of the Mayor’s Office of Bogota, Luz Amparo Medina, said that this project is part of a cooperation alliance with CAF for more than 150,000 dollars that includes issues of sustainable and inclusive mobility, climate action and smart cities.
Regarding the Universal Accessibility Master Plan that will come out of ‘Bogota al derecho’, the director assured that the technical work has already begun and that the result will be ready in the first half of 2023.
“We will deliver a plan with prioritized actions and a schedule of what should be done to improve the mobility of this population,” said Medina and explained that, as the input will be ready at the end of Claudia Lopez’s mayoralty, what will be done is to deliver it to the next administration.
