Colombians walk, bike, skate during car-free day

BOGOTA, Colombia -- Millions of residents of the capital hiked, biked, skated or used buses and taxis Thursday during a "day without cars" that left the normally congested avenues of Bogota eerily devoid of traffic jams.

The weather, which has been sunny and crisp in recent days, did not cooperate. Roiling gray clouds hovered over Bogota, perched 8,500 feet above sea level in an Andean plain, spitting out occasional rain showers.

"The rain hasn't stopped people from participating," said Bogota Mayor Antanas Mockus, who was biking around the city with an orange helmet and vest.

He pedaled over to the residence of the ambassador of Holland, Teunis Kamper, for a joint ride. Before the two set off together, a reporter asked Kamper if he had exercised to prepare for Thursday.

"I'm Dutch," the ambassador said with a smile. "I was practically born on a bike."

Rifle-toting soldiers -- part of enforced security to ward off stepped up rebel attacks in past weeks -- watched cyclists and people on inline skates weave past.

"I thought I was at Venice Beach or something," said an American oil executive, who normally is chauffeured to work with a bodyguard, but who chose to walk on Thursday.

One policeman watched with amusement as a novice inline skater had a hard landing on his rear, then helped the embarrassed man to his feet. Around midday, the sun finally broke through, the clouds lifting from emerald mountains outside the city.

It was the third straight year cars have been banned for one day in this capital of 7 million. For the first time, two other Colombian cities, Cali and Valledupar, joined the event, which is aimed at promoting alternative transportation and cutting down smog. Violators faced $25 fines.

"It's a good opportunity to take away stress and lower air pollution," said businessman Carlos Arturo Plaza, 48, as he rode a two-seat bicycle with his wife.

Municipal authorities from other cities in Latin America came to Bogota to see the event, and were enthusiastic.

"These people are generating a revolutionary change, and this is crossing borders," said Enrique Riera, the mayor of Asuncion, Paraguay.