Día Del Peatón

Pedestrian Day

A usual day in Bolivia includes traffic jams, blockades or marches. When traffic runs it's normal course, pedestrians need to walk with caution. Traffic does not yeild in any situation to pedestrians, not to women with baby strollers, people in wheelchairs or blind people with canes. I have almost been run down many times crossing the street at the intersection, the cars were running through red lights.

Pedestrian Day, the people rule the roads, my first time in Bolivia the city of Cochabamba celebrated this day once a year, currently 3-4 times a year, sneakers take over the street. On a Sunday, from about 7 in the morning until about 5 or 6 at night all motorized vehicles are banned from the streets (except of course police or emergency vehicles) Though in a city of almost a million people, there are few of either of these public service vehicles.




Last year Bolivia began it's first national Pedestrian Day. Cochabamba led the way for more than a decade. The reason behind the day was to have a day free of pollution from cars, trucks and buses. Not only was the environment improved but so too were people educated about the environment.

Bicycles are allowed to pass freely on the streets, each time more bikes are sold and used on this day. There has been a lot of support for this event. I saw a local talk show on the subject, and the callers were very positive and even offered great suggestions for the next one. One person even suggested to increase the frequency to once a month. It seems to be a great family event too, parents walk while their children ride bikes, free from worry of being mowed down by cars. Everyone is very friendly and cheerful, and many soccer games take place all over the city on the streets, taking over blocks.



Street vendors set up shop early on the streets that get the most foot traffic. As I passed through the Cancha (the outdoor streetmarket where people buy their food, and almost everything else), it seemed the vendors were not having a good day because people were out enjoying other parts of the city. I almost had to wake someone up to buy veggies. Many bike repair people set up stations on the street too. Above (photo) is a large repair and air station set up by Public Works of Cochabamba, they give free service, and also free spring water. They are also very, very friendly, especially sitting there all day in the heat!



There are many interesting sights. My favorite this time was this homemade wooden bike, that I ran into on one of the side streets in a nicer neighborhood. It is way heavier than my friend Keith's bamboo bikes.



Don't worry if you get hungry and you are tired of walking, some food will eventually come by your path. Pedaling hamburgers takes on a new meaning for me! Could this be the origin of the phrase? This is not an unusual site I have seen up to a dozen hamburger bikes setting off to cook and sell hamburgers. What is unusual is that is is going down one of the busiest streets near my home.

Below is El Prado, one of the busiest streets here. It has a park strip between the two sets of traffic lanes. Here it is impossible to ride a bike, and one shouldn't even try out of respect for the pedestrians, it really is their day! The scene is one of a big fair, music, crafts, food, games for kids and more.