Lessons from Bogotá: Reclaiming Public Space for Public Health

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What does it take for a city of 8 million people to get 1.5 million of them outdoors and physically active on a Sunday?

According to Guillermo Peñalosa, the former Parks Commissioner of Bogotá, Colombia, all it takes is the political and community will to provide people with the necessary public space. And, he should know: he has done it.

Please join Transportation Alternatives, Harlem Community Development Corporation, Project for Public Spaces and the NYC Food & Fitness Partnership for an evening presentation and discussion with Guillermo Peñalosa about Ciclovía and car-free spaces as a means to improving public health and social equity.

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Before Enrique Peñalosa took over as Mayor of Bogotá, Colombia, this thriving downtown plaza was a decrepit, crime-ridden, traffic-congested slum. Peñalosa cleared out the old shacks, banned private motor vehicles, launched the Transmilenio bus service, created the plaza, and returned this public space to his city’s people. Granted, the neighborhood pictured above clearly lacks the First […]

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Bogotá’s Peñalosa Talks Up Livable Streets, Sans Spandex

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Filed by April Greene Guillermo ("Gil") Peñalosa has a message for you. Actually, he has about 100, but they all packed very nicely into his two hour presentation last Thursday night at Harlem’s Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building. The former Parks Commissioner of Bogotá, Colombia, joined by members of the Harlem Community Development […]

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