An Ethiopian delegation on a study visit to Colombia

Last week, CODATU had the honour of organising a study visit to Colombia for a delegation from the city of Addis Ababa, as part of a programme funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), to develop sustainable mobility on a global scale.

We began our adventure on 15 September in Bogotá, the dynamic Colombian capital. The delegation had the opportunity to meet the dedicated teams at the Secretaria de Movilidad and the Secretaria General. We also visited the Transmilenio BRT system and the @Transmicable cable car, not forgetting the conventional and electric bus depots managed by Transdev and GreenMovil.

This immersion enabled us to observe a capacity system built in phases, always seeking to improve. We were particularly impressed by the quality of the relationship between Transmilenio and its operators. Enriching discussions highlighted the importance of intermodality and the integration of transport infrastructure with the urban environment. We also highlighted the crucial need to develop infrastructures and initiatives that promote active modes of transport and optimise the use of public space.

These valuable lessons have been a great inspiration to the Ethiopian delegation, which is preparing to build its first BRT line while facing major mobility challenges. A huge thank you to our Colombian partners for their warm welcome and invaluable support throughout this experience!

After Bogotá, the Addis Ababa delegation headed for Cali, the country’s third largest city, where we had the privilege of meeting some of the key players in mobility. The Mayor of Alcaldía de Cali, as well as the heads of the mobility entities, gave our delegation a warm welcome. We discussed current transport issues and projects in the city and its metropolitan area, in particular with the Secretaria de Movilidad de Cali, MetroCali, as well as the #Autoridad Regional de Transporte and SITREN.

We also had the pleasure of discovering the famous #MIO BRT system, accompanied by the #MetroCali management teams. The meeting with the Autoridad Regional de Transporte team was particularly instructive, illustrating an example of mobility governance at metropolitan level, supported by CODATU. These many lessons will continue to inspire the Ethiopian delegation, which is preparing to build its first BRT line while facing major mobility challenges.

One of the key lessons of the visit was the importance of coordinated work between the various players in the city and the urban area to develop an integrated mobility system. The planning and initiatives around active modes, the MIO system managed by MetroCali, and the metropolitan train project managed by SITREN are all examples of a holistic approach.

The sharing of innovations and lessons learned on the MIO system, as well as MetroCali’s honest and clear discourse, have enriched our understanding of the challenges and successes of BRT in Colombia. The strong relationship between the manager and the operators is also a model to follow.

We concluded our week’s visit to Colombia with the ‘puente de colores’, a magnificent achievement that perfectly illustrates the concerted efforts of citizens to reclaim public space. This project, run by our partner Despacio as part of the #VivoMiCali programme, bears witness to the collective commitment to beautifying the city and strengthening the bonds between its residents. A big thank you to our Colombian partners for their warm welcome and for these invaluable exchanges!