The measures are partial and temporary: Bogotá Mayor's Office facing restrictions on motorcyclists

This Monday, mobility in the streets of Bogotá became difficult due to the motorcyclists stoppage that occurs at various points. The demonstration is due to the new restriction implemented by the district, in which it prohibits movement with a barbecue every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, between 7:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m., starting next April 14.

The points where the protest has been recorded are: the Virgilio Barco Library, the Troncal Caracas with 45th Street, the Norte Highway with 100th Street, Boyacá Avenue with 80th Street, the Ciudad de Cali Avenue with 145th Street, the Banderas Station and 68th Avenue.

Faced with the situation, the Mayor's Office called on the citizens to “all collaborate and contribute to our own security”, bearing in mind that the days of the restriction are those with the highest crime rates. “In the evenings and early hours of Thursday to Saturday, there were 27% of homicides with motorcycle hit men and 32% of robberies,” said the district.

It should be recalled that this measure arose in the first place because of the two recent attacks that the capital has suffered in the town of Ciudad Bolivar. According to Mayor Claudia López, the restrictions are implemented with the aim of mitigating these risks, since both events “occurred just on Saturday night.”

The Lopez administration highlighted the efforts being made by other sectors of the public: businesses with public service until 5:00 a.m. are being linked to local security fronts to prevent quarrels and protect their customers, and parks, squares and public spaces will be closed at 10:00 p.m. for all group activity and liquor consumption.

In context: Alert for possible mobility chaos in Bogotá: by protest, motorcyclists began to block some roads

For their part, the Police, the Mayor's Office and the Ministry of Labour have redoubled control of organizations and establishments that pose as clubs or unions when in fact they are illegal night bars or the epicenters of other illegal activities.

“Motorcycles, which circulate freely, without pickaxes and plates, that do not pay tolls and have less taxes, are being asked to join these efforts,” the district said, noting what are the two minimum actions to contribute: to carry public and visible identification, and that they do not have a barbecue for only three days at night . He also recalled that the new measures “are characterized by being partial and temporary”, since they will go until June 2022.

The demands of motorcyclists

The motorcycle guild has pointed out as “arbitrary and stigmatizing”, considering that the decision will not influence an issue as complex as safety, while it will affect several motorcyclists who have their means of transport as their sole basis.

Miguel Forero, leader of the SOS Cultura group, commented that “stigmatizing a guild that has done a lot of good to citizens, which for a few cannot label everyone as criminals because they move on a motorcycle”. He also argued that the mayor's measure would be insufficient, since it does not have a direct impact on security: “This restriction attacks a transport vehicle, not insecurity. The thief does not get off the motorcycle and stop committing a crime, rather he is going to go to another medium to continue stealing”.

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