Over 2 million cars and motorcycles are cleared off the roads of Bogotá, Colombia every Sunday to make way for bicycles, roller skates, scooters and skateboards

Every Sunday, the traffic-jammed, stressed-out citizens of Bogotá, Colombia get a day of rest, free from honking horns, sitting at red lights and engine fumes.

For the last 14 years, the city’s leaders have banned all motorized vehicles in the city limits from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and over time, it has turned into a day of relaxation and celebration.

Originating as an environmentalist experiment, it a respite from the stress of modern life, cherished by the 1.5 million Bogotanos who come out for the festivities at the end of each week.

“All kinds of transportation are welcome—bicycles, roller skates, scooters, wheelchairs, skateboards—as long as they are not motor-driven,” reports Alma Guillermoprieto for National Geographic.

The event is called Ciclovía, or Bicycle Way, and the idea is spreading worldwide to cities in Europe, China and New Zealand.

Ciclovía is about more than just cycling. It’s about slowing down and building community. And there’s lot’s to do besides riding or rollerblading, including walking, running, dancing, Zumba and even tai chi […]

via This City Bans Cars Every Sunday and Everyone Loves It — Return to Now