Enrique Penalosa, mayor of Bogota, Colombia, is championing the bicycle as the means to a cleaner environment and has directed the city to build nearly 125 miles of permanent bike paths. Penalosa instigated a car-less day in the city in June and a recent poll found that Bogota residents would support another car-less day, though they may be less enthusiastic about Penalosa’s plans to call for a permanent ban on all cars in the city by 2015. But some enviros are critical of the mayor’s efforts, pointing out that many trees have been chopped down to make room for the bike paths. Activists have tacked signs onto some trees that read, “This tree is condemned to death,” and, “If you hear the chainsaw hug me.” Others criticize Penalosa for neglecting public transport.
