In terms of mobility, Bogotá is working on keeping the virus from spreading on public transportation
- Following the pandemic measurement model, and in order to respond to the reactivation of some economic branches, the city administration established that TransMilenio, the mass transportation system, will operate at only 35% of its capacity. The measure aims at avoiding agglomerations and thus halting contagion of COVID-19.
- While restricting public transportation, from Monday April 27th onwards, there will be a further push for the use of bikes and car-pooling. This announcement joins previous measures such as the implementation of temporary bike lanes, made prior to the declaration of the quarantine at the national level.
- Increased cleaning frequency and implementation of new cleaning standards for public buses and stations.
- Installation of hand washing facilities at the entrance of TransMilenio (BRT) stations
- Removal of elements that are susceptible to contamination inside public buses such as carpets, seat covers, among others.
- Procedures to highlight and report potential symptoms of COVID-19 in bus drivers and personnel linked to public transportation.
- Public transport was closely inspected to ensure there are good ventilation conditions in place to circulate air inside each vehicle.
- Before the quarantine drill, Bogota cancelled the Sunday Ciclovía, a weekly event in which the main streets of the city are closed off to motorized traffic and are open to cyclists and pedestrians. Instead, those resources were invested in establishing a dedicated lane on main streets for bicycles, aimed at decongesting public transport.
- The city co-organized the hackathon initiative #MOVID19 to gather data. Scientists, transport and public health experts participated and came up with answers to the question: With data analysis and impact monitoring, which initiatives could be implemented to improve mobility around the city, reduce the probability of transmission of COVID-19, and focalize services towards those who inexorably must use public transport?
- All businesses that wish to reopen during lockdown must also provide a plan for sustainable transportation of their employees.
