It is a natural practice in Denmark and The Netherlands, and now it is becoming more common in Argentina: thousands of bikers commute daily among cars, buses and taxis.
This mean of transport has recently been rediscovered in the country. The bike has the benefits of being healthy, economical, and environmentally friendly, because it doesn’t produce greenhouse gases or contribute to noise pollution.
The use of bicycles is also being encouraged by the Government of the City of Buenos Aires since 2010, mainly through the construction of 94 kilometers of bike paths and a free bike sharing system. Currently, over 50,000 registered cyclists can use 700 yellow bicycles parked at 23 strategic points in the city.
"I enjoy biking, especially in sunny days. To get to the office, I combine train and bicycle. I make a modest contribution to the environment and mental health of the suffered porteños", says Cecilia, who works in Leandro Alem and Corrientes, in the center of the argentine capital.
The cities of Rosario and Cordoba are following the trend supported by the World Bank through the Global Environmental Facility (GEF). Rosario is currently the city with the largest amount of bike lanes per capita in Argentina (43 km/1,100,000 people) and it is estimated that about 8% of the trips are made by bike.
