Pedaling La Ciclovia near Congress.

It's a 37-year tradition sometimes called 'the world's longest street party.' on Sundays and holidays Bogotá closes down more than 100 kilometers of streets and avenues to car traffic and turns them over to people: cyclists, walkers, skaters and joggers.

The practice is called La Ciclovia and has become a model for events in other cities across the Americas, including Medellin, Quito, Caracas, Austin (Texas) and even auto-addicted Los Angeles, California. In some North American cities the practice is called 'Sunday Streets' or 'Summer Streets. But no place else does it as ambitiously and frequently as Bogotá does.

Bogotá's Ciclovia passes by or near many of the city's most important landmarks, including the national and municipal government buildings, the presidential palace, major parks and the Colpatria Tower, the tallest building in the country.

La Ciclovia has generated opposition from drivers, but also has lots of backers. A few years ago, a congressman introduced a bill to close La Ciclovia at 12 noon instead of 2 p.m. The sitting and previous mayor, as well as cycling activists and Ciclovia users rallied against the proposal, which died in Congress. A recent study found that Ciclovia-type events save money for communities in reduced medical costs.

Besides sports, La Ciclovia is also a place for music, street food and even politics.

Wild animals on La Ciclovia.

A musical group rehearses La Ciclovia.

Doing aerobics in the Recrovia in the National Park, another part of Bogotá's physical activity program.

Guamba and mamoncillos for sale along La Ciclovia.