Bogotá Opens Safe Cycling Routes for Families and Beginner Riders

This Sunday morning, under the watchful slopes of Monserrate, young cyclists coasted along the Ciclovía route on Carrera Séptima. For families and cycling novices in Bogotá, safe and accessible routes like this have become the city’s answer to building biking confidence-and encouraging a new generation of riders.

The city’s renewed focus on cycling safety comes as more residents look for wellness-oriented, affordable ways to get outdoors amid ongoing air quality concerns and perennial traffic jams. With July marking National Recreation Month and Bogotá’s longstanding tradition of Sunday Ciclovía closures-where over 120 kilometers of roads are blocked to cars-interest in beginner-friendly riding options is spiking again this season.

Where to Ride: La Calera and Parque El Virrey Offer Secure Starts

For newcomers, two favourites top the local list. The popular Parque El Virrey circuit in the Chicó neighbourhood features a dedicated, well-maintained bike path that loops through tidy gardens for just over 2.2 kilometers. Parents regularly use the Virrey circuit to introduce children as young as five to cycling, thanks to its gentle slopes, visible security presence, and proximity to amenities like restrooms and kiosks.

Another go-to is Avenida Circunvalar’s protected cycleway, which begins at Calle 72 and follows up toward La Calera. While more ambitious riders train for altitude here, beginners and families often enjoy the first few kilometers-the track is separated from traffic, offers regular police patrols, and passes through shaded areas frequented by joggers and other cyclists. On weekends, the route hums with families outfitted in bright vests, especially near access points by Quebrada La Vieja and Zona G coffee shops.

Data: Bogotá’s Cycling Renaissance Rides On

Cycling has boomed across Bogotá over the past five years. According to the Secretaría de Movilidad, daily bike trips hit 880,000 in 2025, a 25% increase from the previous decade. Usage spikes on Sundays during Ciclovía hours, when safe cycling numbers soar and car traffic dips by over 60% along shut routes like Carrera Séptima, Calle 26 and Avenida Boyacá. Bike rentals-a beginner-friendly entry point-start around COP 10,000 per hour at official city posts and local shops along the Parque Nacional corridor.

City initiatives like "Al Colegio en Bici" also help novices, offering supervised group rides to schools in Suba, Kennedy and Engativá, with over 5,000 students participating last semester, according to Bogotá’s Institute of Recreation and Sports (IDRD).

How to Get Rolling Next Weekend

With summer in full swing, families new to cycling should consider starting at El Virrey or along the closed portions of the Ciclovía. Weekends are typically safest due to traffic closures and extra on-duty security. The IDRD recommends checking the weekly Ciclovía map on their website for real-time route information, and classics like Parque Simón Bolívar also offer flat terrain and well-marked lanes for all skill levels.

Don’t own a bike? Public rental programs offer both adult and children’s sizes, and several shops along Carrera 15 and Calle 116 are running July promotions. Helmets are officially required for children under 14, and strongly recommended for all.

Above all, persistence pays. Local parents who start with short loops report kids build cycling confidence quickly-sometimes within a single Sunday. For beginners of any age, there is no better time to join Bogotá’s lively community on wheels than now.