Interview with Pedro R. Kanof at Cuenca, 2012

HOST: We're coming to you live at 8:25 in the morning, where we are learning about the unique and diverse happenings in Cuenca. Today from Quinta Lucrecia, we have the mayor Mr. Paul Granda and the Seventh Congress on Recreational Biking Network of the Americas. This is a very important gathering that will continue today and tomorrow, and in which the public is welcome to participate. There are also some special guests who have come to help expand on this subject. Last year's conference was held in Cuenca's sister city of Medellín. Medellín serves as an exemplary model for its good environmental practices and accomplishments in promoting biking among its citizens. GRANDA: Last year's conference was held in Cuenca's sister city of Medellín. Medellín serves as an exemplary model for its good environmental practices and accomplishments in promoting biking among its citizens. As I was saying previously, the sixth Congress on Recreational Biking in the Americas was held in Medellín. They announced there that the seventh congress would be in Cuenca and since last year, we have been preparing very diligently. The theme of this year's conference is Cities, Public Health, Heritage, Mobility, and Environment. Today we are here thanks to the support and cooperation with the Minister of Health and the Minister of Transportation and other organizations to ensure the success of our program. And without a doubt, this would not have been without the dedicated and selfless citizens who gave their time to assist in this common effort. Although many do not even work in the environmental field, they are here as part of a larger civic engagement because they have genuine interest in the promotion of bike-use here in Cuenca. We have already seen that the number of cyclists in the city has been growing and it is our grand vision it will continue to increase into the future. As a municipality, we have a responsibility to fulfill this common desire that bike-use is promoted. To do this, we have designed a very clear public policy to promote the use of bicycles as a form of transportation within the city. We are going to describe in more detail exactly what the city is doing. But first, with us today we have Guillermo Peñaloza from Colombia. He is the executive director of Ocho Ochenta Cities, a Canadian organization that provides consulting work in regards to developing non-motorized transportation system. He was also a pioneer in making Bogota's Park and Recreation project a reality. It is amazing! In the past ten years Bogotá has taken enormous steps and advancements in this field. Also with us is Xavier Coraminas, the Technical Secretary for the urban biking network. He was the mayor of the city of Salt in Girona, Spain. Lastly, we are joined by Pedro Kanof. We had the opportunity to enjoy a very interesting meeting with Mr. Kanof the other day. He is a specialist in biking and non-motorized transportation. Welcome to our three experts and thank you for joining us. I hope you will help guide us through this topic of non-motorized transportation as we search for a unified path and policy forward. Our city has already started moving toward biking transportation and we have begun that fundamental transition to biking and non-motorized transportation. The development of a network of bike paths through the city is already being undertaken. Pedro Kanof is an international consultant on biking. We had an incredibly interesting conversation. I think we spoke, Pedro, for maybe three or three and half hours. He has come up with an incredibly innovative system of bike parking. Not only can a rider rent a bicycle, he can also use the station to park his own bicycle. This new system has the capacity to accelerate the general transition to non-motorized forms of transportation. And you are able to implement that right now, am I right? KANOF: Mr. Mayor, thank you for the opportunity to join you at this important international conference and in this historical city Essentially, as you just mentioned, when we think of bicycles, we have to think of transportation systems that help make the city more sustainable and fundamentally improve the environment, Basically, as my colleague Guillermo Peñaloza has stated, bicycling creates the democratization of social structures. Additionally we have discussed over the past few days how bicycling allows for social inclusion. What I mean by this is that biking is an economical and healthy solution that means people without money are able to leave the confines of their neighborhoods and go to cultural centers where there are opportunities for leisure and personal betterment. Along these lines, what I hope will come from this conference is that the use of the bicycle cannot be limited to young people But rather we must think of bicycling as something for all ages. When I see these young people on their bikes tackling hills with great force, I think, “That's great. But we have to think of their mothers and grandmothers, as well.” In this case, of course, an electric bike would be very appropriate. Also, senior citizens can use tricycles. I believe Cuenca is in a prime position to help the entire population, and not just in an age-specific sector. GRANDA: Pedro lives in an inhospitable part of Washington, which is one of the farthest neighborhoods from the center of Washington. Pedro, you have presented many things. You have told us about this system of bike parking and renting, that doesn't exist in Washington KANOF: Yes, this city [Cuenca] could be many things. It could be like Washington, but it could also be much better than Washington, too, as I told you in the meeting that you so graciously organized. What I mean by that is that we shouldn't try to copy the programs of other so-called "developed" countries. We have to think of new solutions and programs and create new systems to improve our situation. There are many families who already have bicycles at home and the number of unused bicycles is absolutely enormous. Public bike programs are good, but my modest suggestion is that we also include infrastructure that incorporates the immense portion of the population of Cuenca that already has private bikes. First of all, to use the capital and resources that already exist within the family. But secondly, if the number of private bikes is as immense as the models we have suggest, it will create a critical mass of cyclists on the street. Therefore, even without formal regulations, cars will have to slow down. It is also important to note that the best legislation that promotes the use of bicycles will be rendered useless without the necessary enforcement. The critical mass of bikes in the street will force them to pay attention because it's not one, or two, or three isolated bikes. It is going to be dozens or even hundreds of bikes at certain times of the day.