Lessons from Bogotá, Part III (9:58)

Peter Jackson ain’t got nothing on Clarence Eckerson. Here is the third and final installment of Streetfilms’ Bogotá trilogy based on the New York City Streets Renaissance team’s visit with Gil Peñalosa in Colombia last September. Clarence writes:

You’ll find lots of tasty video morsels including: riding some of the great ciclorutas and cycle paths, a visit to a thriving pedestrian-only street where they said it couldn’t be done, a "bollard farm," mucho footage of the city’s parks and public spaces and comments from the city’s residents. And we couldn’t resist — just a wee bit more dance mania from the Recreovia.

If this is your first foray into Bogotá, you may want to check out these as well:

  • momos

    Clarence – awesome streetfilm as always. It makes such a difference to actually see these ideas. I’m particularly fascinated by the emphasis you discovered in Bogota on social integration. NYC, as an ethnically diverse city and one of the most economically polarized cities in North America, should really consider this dimension in its planning for public space.

  • Maybe some of these poor Colombians can make a case for this kind of infrastructure in Havana, since it’s apparently impossible for “rich white boys” like Ethan Kent (and probably Gil Peñalosa) to explain the value of it.

  • Braddy

    It’s a 5 Borough Bike Tour every Sunday in Bogota!

  • Larry Littlefield

    Seeing all this innovation in countries that used to be scoffed at as hidebound in the past (Europe) or poor and backward (Latin America), I’m reminded of the title of a book about New York: “The Future Once Happened Here.” Meanwhile, those who benefit from keepign things as they are are meeting around the corner.

  • momos

    Cap’n Transit – Your point isn’t clear. Are you saying the Bogotá film better communicates the potential of reformed urban infrastructure than the Havana film because it shows how people of all economic classes use it?

    If that’s your point, I’d agree, but I don’t see what calling Ethan Kent a “rich white boy” has to do with it. (Makes you sound like a guilty upper-middle class white liberal, not that there’s anything wrong with being one.)

    As I said in the earlier post, the most exciting way to understand public space is with the agenda of social integration.

    Incidentally, the Jane Jacobs exhibit at the Municipal Arts Society emphasized Jacobs’ assertion that to be alive and well-used, public space requires inclusive economic models that enable the participation of all city residents.

  • Cap’n Transit

    Momos, I didn’t mean to call Ethan a “rich white boy”; I was just quoting the insulting and divisive comments made by Bill Nelson on the Havana post.

    In regard to social integration, I thought the Simon Richards article linked from Planetizen recently had some interesting background.

  • Gargamel Tralfaz

    I thought I understood Cap’n Transit’s mockery, but wasn’t 100% clear so thanks for clearing that up both of you…

    And now let’s hope the video inspires change.

  • Rob

    Pedestrian only streets are awesome! Having experienced them in Istanbul, Beijing, San Jose Costa Rica and other major cities I would love to see one in New York.

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