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December 1, 2007

Ciclovia: Bogotá, Colombia

by Clarence Eckerson, Jr.

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Recently, I had the opportunity to travel with comrades Karla Quintero (Transportation Alternatives) and Aaron Naparstek (Streetsblog) to Bogotá, Colombia to document some of the amazing advances going on in the livable streets movement there. On Sunday we spent the entire day - from 5 AM 'til nearly 5 PM - riding bicycles around the city courtesy of the Ciclovia, a weekly event in which over 70 miles of city streets are closed to traffic where residents come out to walk, bike, run, skate, recreate, picnic, and talk with family, neighbors & strangers...it is simply one of the most moving experiences I have had in my entire life.

I shot with no plan, not knowing much of what was coming up next while we rode our bikes, just trying to capture the event in the moment. We were aided tremendously by the indefatigable Gil Peñalosa, Executive Director of Walk and Bike for Life (yes, brother of Enrique, the former Bogotá mayor.) Gil and his friendly support crew booked us an ambitious schedule and provided unparalleled access to people and places, allowing this mini film to be so much more than I had planned. And dare I leave out our StreeJ Karla Q, who was just so great on the mike. I think we came up with something very special and fun that will hopefully support and propel this movement forward in U.S. cities.

What immediately comes to mind when I think back to our trip were the ubiquitous smiles on everyone's faces wherever we went. Nearly 1.8 million Colombians out using the Ciclovia and Recreovia to de-stress, get healthy, and connect personally with their fellow citizens. Young or old, rich or poor, pedestrian or cyclist - in Bogotá everyone loves the Ciclovia.

Just to get a grasp on just what this could be like in NYC: imagine the once-a-year Bike New York event in May, multiply the number of participants by over 30, double the mileage of roads closed to cars and leave them that way for a full seven hours, make the event free, and then do it every Sunday - and holidays!(Note: this is the first of multiple reports from Bogotá. In the near future, look for a short(s) on BRT, cycle paths, Bogotá life and parks.)

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    Charlie D.

    What a terrific film! Very inspirational!

    November 26, 2007 at 12:52 pm Link # 1
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    Adam

    Here in Budapest, Hungary there are about 9-10 marathons or other running events a year and some politician wants to ban them so the cars have more space and there will be less traffic jams. I think it's a terrible idea, I wish we'd like to be like Bogota.

    December 1, 2007 at 12:33 pm Link # 2
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    Freddy Aldemar Garcia

    Hello. As user of the Ciclovia and especially of the Recreovia National Metropolitan Park "Enrique Olaya Herrera", me full with pride seeing the kind face of my city, the tolerance, the respect and the peace that one has in these recreation spaces.

    Documental as these, they are those that have to observe people interested in finishing these programs, in eliminating a space of peace, people that think of their personal well-being and not the singular.

    To the one that reads this comment and he/she doesn't make physical activity I invite it so that this city is enjoyed that beautiful BOGOTÁ are!!!

    www.recreovia.spaces.live.com

    December 2, 2007 at 6:39 am Link # 3
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    Ed Pino

    Great job looks like you all had a good time doing this film.
    Now what can we do to get this started in New York?
    Ed

    December 2, 2007 at 3:34 pm Link # 4
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    John Meland

    This is crazy. Why don't they speak English in Columbia. This is the Americas!!!! Seriously, nice job.

    December 2, 2007 at 3:55 pm Link # 5
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    SD JONES

    This is really great. I'd love to see this tried in the outer boros first before implementing in Manhattan. Maybe around Astoria or Bay Ridge.

    December 2, 2007 at 4:49 pm Link # 6
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    Streetsblog » Ciclovía: A Moving Experience in Bogotá

    [...] that will hopefully support and propel this movement forward in U.S. cities.Read more of Clarence's thoughts on Ciclovía here. Filed by Clarence Eckerson Jr. under Out of Town, Urban Planning, Quality of Life, Public [...]

    December 3, 2007 at 11:22 am Link # 7
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    Kathleen Treat

    You GO, Clarence! Now if we could just get NYC to dump the #7 for light rail/trolley cars...............

    December 3, 2007 at 2:35 pm Link # 8
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    Stan

    Cudos...! how civilized, how inspiring!

    December 3, 2007 at 5:01 pm Link # 9
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    Andy B from Jersey

    This is the same comment I left over at Streetsblog.

    I wonder if the claim by the one guy towards the end that "the city is becoming more tolerant" can be proven with some stats.
    Wouldn't it be wonderful if there are some statistically significant findings that can prove that crime in the city has dropped since the start of the program?
    If so, this would put another notch in the old claim that bicycling can save the world; one that I never would have thought possible.

    December 3, 2007 at 10:29 pm Link # 10
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    Monica Davila V

    Esa es otra de nuestras realidades colombianas, innovar y trabajar por la gente, la ciclovía es un espacio espectacular y necesario para el desarrollo de ciudadanía y construcción de ciudad y sociedad. Ojalá todos lo paises puedan pensar en darle esto a sus gentes y que Colombia amplie esta estrategia a todas sus ciudades. La ciclovia es lo mejor y mi bici mucho mas !!!

    December 4, 2007 at 8:34 am Link # 11
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    Robert Raburn

    "Mindblowing" may be a trite cliché, but it accurately describes my own Sunday ride in Bogotá. Thanks, Clarence, for providing another great film!

    December 4, 2007 at 9:32 am Link # 12
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    JD

    Great film! I live in Portland, OR where we will be implementing our own ciclovia-like experiment this June. Nice to see what there is out there to aspire to.

    December 4, 2007 at 11:47 am Link # 13
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    Camila Zambrano

    I'm proud of those programs in Colombia... as a bogota citizen I really enjoyed the ciclovia an it's a sample of how the city is being developed.

    December 7, 2007 at 11:57 am Link # 14
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    MiamiMike

    Great Video! As an Avid Biker here in Miami, I feel envious we don't have a similiar program in our fair City. Not to mention the Transmilenio(sp?)Rapid Bus system. Bogota is light years ahead of Miami in these two aspects, makes you wonder which City is more of a developed Community when you see Transportaion Advances such as these. To Miami's Credit, they are studying the Transmilenio Express Bus Concept to allevaite the Congestion we experience daily. To me these are No Brainers(ciclovia and transmilenio) as the needed infrastructure is already inplace. Thanks for the Great Video; Publicity to promote the Positive aspects of Colombia such as this cannot be bought at any price!

    December 7, 2007 at 12:39 pm Link # 15
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    Mario Chamorro

    I thought I'd translate the comment by Monica Davila V on 4 December 2007:
    ---
    This is another of our Colombian realities, innovate and work for the ( good of the ) people, the Ciclovia is a spectacular space, and it's necessary for the development
    of the citizens and the construction of the city and society. Hopefully all countries will think about giving their people this, and hopefully Colombia will augment this
    strategy in all it's cities. The Ciclovia is the best, and my bike so much more!!! -- Monica Davila V

    December 10, 2007 at 3:37 pm Link # 16
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    jason

    this is a great video, how come it's not offered as an embedable video for people to post directly on their own blogs?

    December 10, 2007 at 4:15 pm Link # 17
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    Clarence Eckerson, Jr.

    Jason,

    All of our videos are available to embed....just click on the page and all the info is there.

    http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/ciclovia/

    In this case, just use the following link and scroll down, you'll find the code. We wholeheartedly encourage the sharing and posting of our stuff. We are in the business of changing the world.

    And thank you everyone for all the great comments thus far left here and the 100s of others on other blogs posting Ciclovia.

    Clarence

    December 10, 2007 at 5:22 pm Link # 18
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    StreetFilms Loves Liveable Portland :

    [...] everywhere. Their most recent blog post documents the livable streets initiatives going on in Bogotá, Colombia. The above video is a 30 minute love-fest for for Portland’s bike and pedestrian-friendly [...]

    December 12, 2007 at 11:27 pm Link # 19
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    timo forsberg

    ! Viva ciclovias !

    To see a bit about Portland's effort to mount a similar event in 2008, check this webpage:
    http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=46103

    Thanks Clarence and StreetFilms for saving us multiple-thousand words with your excellent moving pictures.

    December 14, 2007 at 6:00 pm Link # 20
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    Try Your Christmas Bike in the Park

    [...] Posted by chdot on December 20, 2007 StreetFilms [...]

    January 2, 2008 at 7:45 pm Link # 21
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    Ciclovia - A weekly event in Bogota! « Growing Ideas

    [...]  http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/ciclovia/   [...]

    January 7, 2008 at 3:30 pm Link # 22
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    South American Social Capital « liam’s ruminations

    [...] factories in Argentina to the citizens of Bogota, Columbia taking back their streets with the Ciclovia. “Every Sunday and holiday, every week, the City of Bogotá, Colombia closes down over 70 [...]

    January 11, 2008 at 3:33 pm Link # 23
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    Life on Earth » Colombia, for the dogs

    [...] * Note: If you’re a bicycle promoter, you must check out when they are doing in Bogotá. Watch this video and tell me you don’t want something like this in your town: Ciclovia: Bogotá [...]

    January 25, 2008 at 9:00 am Link # 24
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    Charles

    Great work, Bogata; we should have Cyclovia in Vancouver!

    January 25, 2008 at 7:45 pm Link # 25
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    Jose Henrique - Brazil

    Congratulations, for this beautiful job!
    This video should be showed to all city mayors with more than 200.000 hab. Our planet need breath and we need health.
    This is a cheapy way to give our help to save the planet with happy people,that finish the sunday thinking to the next sunday/holiday.

    January 27, 2008 at 6:08 pm Link # 26
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    We Have 4 Years to Save the Planet, PERIOD.

    You've probably figured out by now that I'm very anti-car. I'm not militantly against cars, but I don't like them. But I do rent and drive every now and then. Still, I love the third world and the things they do, like this.

    January 28, 2008 at 12:53 pm Link # 27
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    The Woodlawn Neighborhood // Portland, Oregon

    The Ciclovia has become a major community activity with 1.5 million people enjoying the traffic-free boulevards on an average weekend. Another term for this concept is “Sunday Parkways”, and they’re coming to Portland this summer. The City of Portland has put together two Town Hall meetings for neighbors to learn more about the event which will come to our area (thought not through Woodlawn).

    January 28, 2008 at 7:30 pm Link # 28
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    Ciclovías Unidas de Las Américas

    [...] Vea el video de la Red de Ciclovías de las Américas: www.streetfilms.org/archives/ciclovia [...]

    January 29, 2008 at 7:55 am Link # 29
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    Clarence Eckerson, Jr.

    Folks,

    Please keep the comments coming. I appreciate the wonderful feedback you all keep providing. And please do not forget that if you need a copy of the video on DVD to show to rally for Ciclovias in your neighborhood, please let us know.

    January 29, 2008 at 6:53 pm Link # 30
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    Freddy Aldemar Garcia

    Hello Clarence

    I am Freddy, user of the point of aerobicos of the Recreovia National Metropolitan Park "Enrique Olaya Herrera" that at the same time makes part of the circuit of the system Ciclovia of the city of Bogotá. D.C..

    Clarence that so probable it is to have a copy of the video of Ciclovia? I thank the borrowed collaboration ahead of time and at the same time he/she forgives the nuisances, a hug from Bogotá, D.C.

    January 30, 2008 at 4:26 pm Link # 31
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    M. Dowd

    Boy, if I could show one film to Bloomberg, this would be it. So cheap and easy to implement, such amazing benefits.

    February 1, 2008 at 9:59 pm Link # 32
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    Marc Edelman

    Great video! I was in Bogotá in October, for the first time in many years, and found the place very changed in many positive ways. At the National University there are now also free bicycles so that students, faculty and university employees can ride across the very large campus.

    February 7, 2008 at 5:56 pm Link # 33
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    Lois Moss

    I have done a similar project in Cleveland the past two years. We got a ton of media including a short feature in Continental Airlines inflight magazine. For a 4-minute video and more media (including an good general article on car-free initiatives) go to http://www.walkroll.com/#Scrapbook.

    February 7, 2008 at 11:14 pm Link # 34
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    Lois Moss

    I have just discovered this site and it looks great!

    We are planning the first "Cleveland Bicycle Week" and one of the activities is "Bike to the Movies." Can we show some of your fantastic films?

    February 7, 2008 at 11:17 pm Link # 35
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    meneame.net

    Me gustaría ver mi ciudad así aunque fuera una vez a la semana (VIDEO)...

    A la gente le gusta andar, pasear, ir en bici, disfrutar de una ciudad sin humos. Os imagináis las avenidas de vuestras ciudades libres de coches. En algunos sitios del mundo, empiezan a experimentar. ¿Nos dirigimos hacía eso que llaman "ciudad...

    February 11, 2008 at 9:29 pm Link # 36
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    Morristown Pedal Pushers

    Awesome! Dean sent me a link to a video and blog post about how the city of Bogota, columbia closes some streets EVERY SUNDAY from 5 am to 5 pm .... They are big streets! 4 lanes! It’s looks like a blast! [...]

    February 14, 2008 at 6:36 pm Link # 37
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    autoton sunnuntai « Keskeneräisten ajatusten kaatopaikka

    [...] Bogotassa, Kolumbian pääkaupungissa, homma toimii juuri siten. [...]

    February 16, 2008 at 6:28 am Link # 38
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    Raul Medrano

    I visited family in Colombia in December of 2006 and was so impressed with the Transmilenio and all of the new urbanization redevelopment taking place in Bogota. I am currently on a planning committee in the State of Maryland-United States, in Montgomery County (just outside Washington, DC) and we are studying a Light Rail or Rapid Bus Transit option for a community called Germantown, Maryland...

    February 24, 2008 at 9:19 pm Link # 39
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    Andrew Cauthen

    WoW! I wish this would happen here in richmond, va. People spend more time in their cars in northern virginia than any other place on earth. It's very sad. Especially with the rising population and gas prices not getting any cheaper, ever!

    February 27, 2008 at 7:50 pm Link # 40
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    Sustainable Tucson » Blog Archive » Sustainable Tucson Supported by a Pulliam Grant in 2008

    [...] Every Sunday and holiday, every week, the City of Bogotá, Colombia closes down over 70 miles of roadways to cars and let people bike, walk, talk, exercise, picnic, sunbathe. Just watch the video, it’s amazing. [...]

    March 5, 2008 at 2:30 pm Link # 41
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    Streetsblog LA

    [...] Ciclovia Bogotá, Part I (9:41) [...]

    March 6, 2008 at 10:58 am Link # 42
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    nick wright planning » Blog Archive » travel demo towns

    [...] read more about Ciclovia, take a look at www.streetfilms.org. And for some background on what’s happening in the UK along similar lines, take a look at [...]

    March 20, 2008 at 4:38 pm Link # 43
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    manuel

    que linda que es mi colombia y mi bogota que progresa dia adia felicidades a los de la ciclovia

    March 30, 2008 at 2:53 pm Link # 44
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    I CARE TARANTO

    Cari Amici, poter vedere come una comunità lontana migliaia di Km al di là dell'Oceano riesce a dare l'opportunità ai suoi cittadini di poter usufruire tranquillamente di spazi pedonali, piste ciclabili, etc, lasciatemelo dire è commovente, vorrei invitarvi a visitare Taranto(Italia), che sa offrire 3 ponti ai suoi cittadini forniti di automobili a carburante, il I° ponte è di pietra. il II° ponte è di ferro, il III° ponte è di cemento. Bogotà batte Taranto 1-0.
    http://www.giovannirossettiicaretar.splinder.com

    April 2, 2008 at 5:39 pm Link # 45
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    Portland Carfree Day » Sunday Parkways: Ciclovia comes to Portland, 2007

    [...] And Portland, Oregon, is starting its own festival, Sunday Parkways.After the inspiring success in Bogotá, Portland community members joined with the Portland Office of Transportation to plan [...]

    April 3, 2008 at 5:14 pm Link # 46
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    http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/ciclovia/trackback/

    [...] writing a post about this entry http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/ciclovia/trackback/ Stay [...]

    April 6, 2008 at 9:25 am Link # 47
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    Elaine

    Terrific, maybe this can come to Cleveland, Ohio soon.

    April 7, 2008 at 3:55 pm Link # 48
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    Audacious Ideas » Happiness is Baltimore’s Sunday Streets

    [...] some fun together! To see Ciclovia/Sunday Streets in action, take a look at this 9 minute film: http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/ciclovia/ [...]

    April 14, 2008 at 9:50 am Link # 49
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    The Daily Render by Nikolas R. Schiller

    Streetfilms: Ciclovia in Bogotá, Colombia...

    Following up yesterday’s post about how my neighborhood used to be a bike track, I figured that I should follow-up the entry with something bicycle related. I saw this video a few months ago and even sent it to my old Urban Geography Profess...

    April 15, 2008 at 7:54 am Link # 50
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    The Worldwide Car-Free Movement | EcoSpace.cc

    [...] Watch the video about the Bogota Ciclovia. [...]

    April 24, 2008 at 8:12 pm Link # 51
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    _n A o_ » “Ciclovia” an example of soft urbanism…

    [...] more on streetfilms (by the way a great page to get impressions of cities from all over the world, films [...]

    April 25, 2008 at 3:56 am Link # 52
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    Sustainable Savannah

    [...] Ekerson’s street film about Ciclovia is viewable here. [...]

    June 10, 2008 at 7:10 pm Link # 53
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    marty davidson

    So Exciting! Beautifully made film. I can't wait for this to come to Portland, Oregon. Thanks so much for your great example.

    June 12, 2008 at 5:13 pm Link # 54
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    oraez

    I forwarded this to elected officials in Hialeah, FL - Miami Dade County. :)

    June 12, 2008 at 10:23 pm Link # 55
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    Portland goes carfree next week!

    [...] conference is followed by Portland’s very first ciclovia, which the city is calling Sunday Parkways. Next Sunday, June 22nd, from 8am to 2pm a big chunk of [...]

    June 13, 2008 at 12:59 am Link # 56
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    Streetsblog » Car-Free Saturdays Will Open Path For Peds and Bikes From City Hall to 72nd

    [...] by Ben Fried With several cities in addition to New York exploring the idea of car-free events modeled after Bogotá's Ciclovía, Streetfilms produced this "express version" of their popular full-length video. [...]

    June 16, 2008 at 11:56 am Link # 57
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    NYC Summer Streets: An Overblown Street Fair | Commuter Outrage

    [...] Ciclovia once a year. But my problem with this event is the people who say things like this from Streetsblog: Just to get a grasp on just what this could be like in NYC: imagine the once-a-year Bike New York [...]

    June 17, 2008 at 9:00 pm Link # 58
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    Angela Uribe de Kellett

    I enjoyed this video thoroughly. Firstly because it showed the great thing which has been achieved in Bogota, secondly because it was made in a fun way, with the crew cyling along, interviewing people who take part in the ciclovia and showing the scenery and finally because it showed a positive face of Colombia for a change.

    Well done and keep the videos coming!

    Can we use the text of the video (with due acknowledgement) for an exercise in a book on teaching Spanish?

    Angela

    June 18, 2008 at 12:03 pm Link # 59
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    We Have 4 Years to Save the Planet, PERIOD. - Page 2 - AznLover.com - Asian Social Networking Community

    I love the third world and the things they do, like this. The most important reason about why we're in this mess in the first place is the autos...

    June 22, 2008 at 1:51 am Link # 60
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    sustaiNYC » Blog Archive » What Summer Streets Might Look Like

    [...] This is but a shortened version of a longer piece all about the amazing Cyclovia in Bogota. You can check that out here. [...]

    June 22, 2008 at 3:33 pm Link # 61

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