Kogoy wants Leichhardt to celebrate its streets
Image: A ciclovia in Bogota, Columbia
Leichhardt residents will reclaim the streets Colombian-style each Sunday, should a public spaces initiative led by Greens Councillor Daniel Kogoy be enacted.
Mr Kogoy is busy generating support for ‘ciclovia’, a traditional Columbian street program aiming to give the public full access to the streets for six hours each week.
“120 kilometres of main streets are closed down on Sundays and public holidays so that members of the community can go for a walk, skate, bike ride, practice yoga and all kinds of aerobics. There are also street stalls and many other activities,” Mr Kogoy said.
The original ciclovia took place in Bogota, Columbia in the 1970s, where up to two million people still participate each week.
Mr Kogoy said the program now takes place in over 100 major cities. “They’re typically held during summer. It’s a wonderful idea because everybody can participate, no matter what age, as opposed to a bike ride or a city to surf which is quite an exclusive activity,” he said.
If supported by Council, ciclovia will ensure street stalls, live music and wall climbing form an integral part of Sunday in Leichhardt.
“It’s a fantastically healthy idea, seeing it spread to cities such as Vancouver, New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco among others is great,” he said.
Mr Kogoy said he has received unanimous support from local businesses.
“There will be meeting with stakeholders such as the State Government and NSW Health as the overall health benefits from ciclovia are massive. We want to gain support from Council and then begin consultation with the community,” he said.
“There is already strong support from local business in Balmain including Bike Leichhardt, who are very supportive of the initiative.”
President of Bike Leichhardt, Robert Moore said the initiative was a valuable promotion of sustainability.
“The emphasis is on walking and cycling, and is an excellent way to promote sustainable transport. We are strongly behind Cr Kogoy’s initiative and hope neighbouring councils and the State Government give it proper consideration,” he said.
The ciclovia route, which follows main streets, has proven positive health benefits. Research published in the Journal of Urban Health found the cost-benefit ratio of the San Francisco ciclovia to be $2.32 in healthcare-related savings for every dollar spent on the program.
“Bike Leichhardt thinks a ciclovia in Sydney every weekend or at least regularly through the year – as started in Bogota and now even in cities like LA, New York and Berlin – would be such a great contribution to community fitness and health, as well as a happy social event that brings people together,” Mr Moore said.
