At first glance, Ibagué’s mobility revolution seems modest: neon yellow, sturdy, a basket at the front. This city in central Colombia has made 85 cycles and e-bikes available to the public since the start of 2023.
‘With the introduction of this public bicycle share scheme, we are starting to look for alternatives that allow us to get around town in a way that is environmentally responsible and – above all – free of charge,’ said Andrés Hurtado, the city’s enthusiastic mayor, at the inauguration of the eight bicycle stations.
Ibagué is the capital of Tolima, the department that borders the eastern slopes of Colombia’s Cordillera Central, a branch of the Andes. With a population of around half a million, the city is at most medium-sized by Colombian standards. Until now, only large metropolitan areas like Medellín or Bogotá have introduced public bicycle share schemes. But all that is changing thanks to a partnership with the Euroclima programme, which promotes climate action in Latin America.
Euroclima focuses its attention where local partners see the greatest need. In Guatemala, it was electric rickshaws. In Chile, the programme supported a nationwide strategy for sustainable mobility. And in Ibagué, Colombia, the people wanted public bikes.
Cycling legends from Colombia
Colombia has produced many world-class cyclists, including Nairo Quintana and Egan Bernal, the first South American to win the Tour de France and wear the yellow jersey across the finish line in Paris. And on their days off, amateur Colombian cyclists take to their road bikes in the thousands to climb the Andean asphalt. But as a mode of transport for everyday life, there is still scope for improvement.
According to the World Bank, eight out of ten people in Latin America live in cities – and these cities are proliferating. Infrastructure cannot keep pace. Good public transport requires planning, time and money – three things that are often in short supply.
Ibagué is a case in point. Instead of an integrated municipal bus system, several private companies operate in the city, which means passengers have to pay every time they change bus. This makes public transport both expensive and inefficient. And some parts of the city are not connected at all. The city administration is working on an improved bus system – but in the meantime many citizens are dependent on cars and motorcycles.
The public bicycle share scheme is designed to address this issue for shorter journeys – and to raise the popularity of cycling in general. The bike stations are strategically located in the city centre – convenient for shopping and administrative formalities. Parks, museums and bus stations are also within easy reach.
And the scheme is unusual in another respect: it has a social dimension. The service is free of charge and e-bikes have been purchased for use by pregnant women and senior citizens. In addition, the city opted for local expertise to develop the mobile phone app for users of the bike share scheme.
Euroclima supported Ibagué with the technical, legal and financial issues. These were not inconsiderable. Where to locate the stations? Which authorities to involve? What type of bicycles to provide? What kind of loan system to put in place? The programme also shouldered the cost of the cycles, stations and app.