The Pedestals of Bogotá

Bogotá, ha!

A Londonner friend of mine once guffawed at my admiration for Bogotá. He claimed that there was nothing special about this metropolis in comparison to his city and other world metro centers. I begged to differ based on the simple fact that Bogotá's late bogotáness has come about in the past five/six years and has suffered an explosion of new inhabitants due to the violence and jobs, whereas other large cities had time to plan their way over many decades to create a beautiful environment as well as good citizenry.

The symbolic sidewalk

Since Antanas Mockus took office in '94 or '95 Bogotanos have displayed how malleable we humans are. We can be coaxed toward Nazism, yes, but we can also be coaxed toward setting up literal symbols of respect for other human beings, such as the human pedestal-sidewalks springing up all over the city: ritzy sections, downtown and slowly, yet steadily in poor sections, these 12-inch high pedestal-sidewalks, these symbols demand respect for the pedestrian, the human.

Different degrees

A step beyond the graffiti sprayed around Bogotá, "La paz comienza conmigo" (Peace begins with me), Bogotá has metamorphosed into a throbbing symbol of what the nation and the world needs. Yes, respect for the pedestrian is nothing new to most of the cities and towns in the "developed" world, but those of us who have had the opportunity to experience this change in Bogotá citizenry must argue that it is one-of-a-kind.

The Malleability of Bogotá

From Mockus' mimes on the Avenida 19 instructing us to be kind, to the multiplying human Peñalosian pedestal-sidewalks and ongoing greening/recuperation of public space Bogotanos have proven that attitudes can change. Cackles as a biker passes on the "cicloruta" are becoming less. Boos and hisses at impatient drivers are growing. Just as one can move beyond "Peace begins with me" to volunteering more tax money to the city, this kind of positive symbolism, participation, propaganda, coaxing, education can reach other cities as well as rural areas.

Always so close, so far

Of course, those of us who have fallen victims to the Séptima and know the hard truths of the "invasiones" and poor sectors of the city are aware that there's a long way to go. Nonetheless, through the changing attitudes I find it arguably true that Bogotá has shown to be a symbol of how malleable Colombians and the world must be in order to find the right solutions to the woes we face nowadays.