Former Bogotá Mayor Praises Ethiopia’s Urban Development for Promoting Equality, Improving Quality of Life

Addis Ababa, October 13, 2026 (ENA) — Former Mayor of Bogotá, Capital City of  Colombia, Enrique Peñalosa has praised Ethiopia’s urban development initiatives for improving quality of life, promoting social equality and making cities more attractive to residents and tourists.

 In an exclusive interview with ENA, Peñalosa, who served twice as mayor of Colombia’s capital, highlighted urban development efforts in Addis Ababa and Bishoftu, particularly the expansion of pedestrian walkways, bicycle lanes, parks and illuminated football fields.

He said well-designed public spaces help reduce social inequalities by providing people from different economic backgrounds with equal opportunities to enjoy recreational facilities.

The differences between rich and poor people are more visible during leisure time, he noted, emphasizing the importance of creating public spaces where everyone can relax and enjoy themselves.

Drawing on his experience as an international consultant in urban design and transport, Peñalosa said Ethiopia’s efforts to develop pedestrian friendly infrastructure and recreational facilities were improving urban life.

“What they have done in Addis and here, making wide sidewalks, bikeways, parks, football fields with the lighted football fields, all of this improves the quality of life, makes people happier, constructs equality,” he said.

He added that such facilities enhance residents’ access to recreation while making Ethiopian cities more appealing to tourists and potential residents.

Peñalosa also said Ethiopia’s experience in developing pedestrian friendly urban spaces could offer valuable lessons for cities across Africa and beyond.  

He stressed that sidewalks, bicycle lanes ,and parks should be protected from vehicle encroachment to ensure that pedestrians, families and other users can enjoy them safely.

On climate resilience, he pointed to Ethiopia’s favorable weather conditions as an advantage for encouraging bicycle use.  

He said cycling consumes less energy, while compact urban development and shorter travel distances can help reduce energy consumption and contribute to efforts to address global warming.

“This is very good because it consumes less energy,” he said, referring to bicycle use.

Ethiopia has been undertaking urban development projects in Addis Ababa, Bishoftu and other cities, with a focus on improving infrastructure, expanding public spaces ,and enhancing urban mobility.  

The initiatives include pedestrian walkways, bicycle lanes, parks ,and recreational facilities designed to encourage walking and cycling while improving residents’ quality of life.