“A number of vehicles so obstructed that they can scarcely move”. (thefreedictionary.com, 2014.)

 

Traffic congestion in Colombia costs the nation $1bn a year in wasted fuel from idling vehicles, loss of productivity and in­creased transport costs.

Despite the traffic jams, every day Bogotanos buy more and more cars. In the decade from 2002 to 2012 the number of cars in the capital more than tripled, from 400,000 to 1.3m, according to the city’s vehicle registry.

 

The number has continued to grow at a rate of about 120,000 new vehicles a year in the past two years. For more than a decade, Bogotá has restricted car use on a rotating basis during peak hours to reduce congestion. But those who can afford it just buy another car.

 

To avoid traffic stress, an increasing number of Bogotanos are turning to bicycles for their commute. The city has 376km of cycle lanes, and the Secretariat of Mobility estimates that 500,000 trips a day are made by bike.