Colombia and its capital, Bogota, have become a leading reference for sustainable mobility in Latin America. Through important projects and strategic alliances, the city presents significant achievements in the challenging path towards the energy transition.
The District Mobility Secretariat, headed by Deyanira Ávila, is a key player in the sustainable roadmap “Public Policy for Zero and Low Emission Motorized Mobility 2023-2040“, which seeks to consolidate mobility as an efficient, accessible and competitive alternative in the city and its surrounding municipalities.
One of the important provisions to promote electromobility is the decree to assign guidelines for the constitution, administration and operation of the District Fund for the Promotion of the Technological Upgrade of Urban Freight, an initiative promoted by Avila together with the Secretary of Environment, Carolina Urrutia.
The objective is to articulate, focus, grant incentives and finance the execution of programs aimed at the modernization of urban freight transport in Bogota.
Electromobility and Key Infrastructure
“The cargo sector is one of those that for many years has been left out of mobility and environmental policies, this is one of the first steps we are taking in the consolidation of this Cargo Fund for this type of vehicles,” said Secretary Ávila during the signing of the decree in early 2023.
She invited the actors to get involved in the initiative that she qualifies as one of the great opportunities that the district is providing for financing, and in this way, take that step to the energy transition.
In 2022, Colombia’s capital reached the figure of 1,485 electric buses in operation, making it the city with the second largest fleet of electric buses in the world.
Related content: Hoop Carpool Offers a Mobility Solution for Colombia and Mexico
Progress
In order to take stock of the management being carried out and provide transparent accountability, the District Secretariat, together with other authorities related to mobility, highlighted the work and goals achieved during 2022.
In the last year, the construction of the First Metro Line began, a means of transportation that will mobilize more than one million people per day, benefiting the inhabitants of 78 neighborhoods of the city.
The project has progressed satisfactorily on different fronts, such as the adaptation of the Patio Taller land, which is already 71.99% complete, the 72nd Street road interchange, the early transfer of networks, and property management.
With respect to road infrastructure, 4,232 roads were improved in more than 2,000 neighborhoods, making life easier for 6.7 million citizens. Public space was also improved with the repair of 47,154 m2 of sidewalks, which impacted 1.2 million people.
Hydrogen Bus
In April of this year, the Mayor’s Office of Bogota presented the first hydrogen bus assembled in Colombia. The unit, which will transport more than 98,500 passengers per year, includes a fuel cell and a battery; the battery consumes hydrogen to generate electric energy.
The vehicle has a range of more than 450 kilometers with a single refueling per day and can reach a maximum speed of 90 km/h (56 mph).
It is equipped with world-class technology for the provision of public passenger service. The project contributes to the development of the green hydrogen roadmap outlined by the national government to advance the energy transition and decarbonization of public transport.
The city’s mobility authorities highlighted that the plan contemplates having another 13 buses that can be put into operation with this electrolyzer very soon.
Micromobility
In the area of the use of sustainable light vehicles, the city continues to promote active mobility with the implementation of 67 kilometers of bicycle routes.
In addition, the Bicycle Sharing System was launched, with 3,300 units available and 300 stations for approximately 40,000 users.
During the Sustainable Mobility Week, held last February, citizens had access to 1,500 mechanical bicycles, 1,500 assisted bicycles, 150 chairs for children, 150 bicycle seats and 150 bicycle boxes.
As part of the event, the “Day without cars and motorcycles” was also held, where an approximate reduction of 57% of the emissions generated on a normal day in the city was achieved.
La Rolita
One of the great achievements of the Mobility sector in 2022, with the support of the District Secretariat, was the creation and operation of La Rolita, the only public transportation operator in Bogota, which is committed to gender equity and sustainability.
In a few months of operation, 11 routes have been put into service, generating formal employment for nearly 600 people and reducing the emission of 130 tons of CO2 into the environment by operating with 100% electric buses, thus ratifying the commitment to sustainable mobility.
La Rolita has 229 women operating the buses, many of them heads of households who previously worked in different trades, including unpaid jobs, and who found an opportunity to improve their income and quality of life.
Secretary Deyanira Ávila, who has extensive experience in the mobility sector, expresses her commitment to continue achieving milestones that will lead Bogotá and Colombia as a whole towards the decarbonization of transportation.
She will detail the status of projects and offer perspectives on mobility in the capital during the “Latam Mobility: Colombia 2023″, to be held in Medellin on June 6 and 7. The meeting will be attended by prominent authorities and personalities from the region’s public and private sectors.
