Bike Lanes and Shortcuts: How to Get Around Kennedy Without Dying in the Attempt

Kennedy and the Bike: A Story of Love and Rubble

Kennedy is not just any neighborhood. It's a city within a city, a giant of over a million inhabitants that grew on brick, popular struggle, and, for a few years now, bike lanes that look like a map of dry rivers. If you live here or work in one of its industrial zones, you know that getting around by car is a penance and by TransMilenio, an odyssey. But there's a third way: the bicycle. And no, it's not the easy option. It's the smart option, as long as you know the routes that don't show up on Google Maps.

This article is not a tourist brochure. It's a survival guide written with the sweat of those of us who pedal daily along Avenida Ciudad de Cali or sneak through the alleys of Barrio Marsella to dodge traffic on Boyacá. Here I'll tell you, in great detail, how to get around Kennedy without dying in the attempt, based on the real bike lane network, the shortcuts locals use, and the areas you should avoid like potholes in the middle of the avenue.

The Bike Lane Network in Kennedy: What Exists and What Fails

Let's call it like it is: the bike lane network in Kennedy is a patchwork quilt. There are excellent stretches, like the corridor on Avenida Ciudad de Cali, and there are stretches that look like a motocross track, like the ones bordering Canal Albina. As of August 2026, the situation has improved compared to five years ago, but it's still a puzzle you have to piece together yourself.

The Main Corridors (The Ones That Work)

There's no way around it. If you're going to pedal in Kennedy, these three roads will be your backbone:

• Avenida Ciudad de Cali (from Calle 6 to Calle 80): It's the backbone. The bike lane runs along the central median in several stretches and is one of the widest in the locality. During peak hours (6:30-8:30 am and 5:00-8:00 pm) it gets crowded, but it flows. Watch out for inter-municipal buses that cut into the mixed lanes and pedestrians who cross without looking near Calle 43 Sur.
• Avenida Boyacá bike lane (eastern side): It's fast for heading south or north, but it has a serious problem: potholes at the joints of the paving slabs. If you're on a road bike with thin tires, you'll feel every stone. It's the route that connects with Fontibón and the industrial zone, so heavy traffic is constant. Use it for long trips, not for leisure rides.
• Avenida Américas (from Avenida Boyacá to Avenida Ciudad de Cali): This stretch is deceptive. The bike lane exists, but it's narrow and shares space with feeder buses. It's the direct connection to downtown Kennedy and the TransMilenio station on the same avenue. The recommendation is to use it only if you're leaving or entering the locality, and always with a helmet on.

The Stretches That Look Like a War Zone

It's not all sunshine and roses. There are sectors where the bike lane is a trap:

• The stretch of Avenida 1ro de Mayo between Boyacá and Ciudad de Cali: Here the bike lane disappears, turning into a sidewalk shared with light poles, street vendors, and potholes the size of a tire. Most local cyclists prefer to ride in the left lane of the avenue, but that's dangerous if you don't know the bus flow.
• The Central de Abastos (Corabastos) area: It's chaos on wheels. The bike lane around the perimeter is invaded by cargo trucks, cart pullers, and pedestrians. If you're passing through here, do it in the morning (before 7 am) or after 11 am, when the cargo flow eases up a bit.
• Canal Albina (from Avenida Américas to Calle 13): This is a shortcut many use, but it has a serious safety problem. It's lonely, poorly lit, and in winter turns into a mud pit. I don't recommend it for women alone or for night rides. It's the route connecting Kennedy with Fontibón on the western side, but only use it during the day and in a group.

Secret Shortcuts Kennedy Locals Actually Use

Forget Waze. Those of us who've been in Kennedy for years know the official bike lanes aren't always the fastest route. Here's my list of shortcuts, the ones that don't appear on official maps but save you 15 minutes during rush hour.

The Crossing Through Parque Metropolitano El Tunal

If you're coming from the south (Bosa, for example) and need to get to Avenida Ciudad de Cali, don't go all the way to Boyacá. Enter Parque Metropolitano El Tunal from the Calle 48 Sur side. There's an internal pedestrian path that crosses the park from east to west. Bikes are prohibited, but if you go slowly and carefully, it's a shortcut that saves you from going all the way around via Avenida Caracas and Avenida Ciudad de Cali. Only use it during the day; there are plenty of guards who might call you out.

The Secret Passage of Barrio Marsella

This is a local treasure. To get from Avenida Boyacá to Avenida 1ro de Mayo without dealing with the chaos of Calle 43 Sur, take your bike down Calle 44 Sur, right where Barrio Marsella begins. It's a quiet residential street that leads to Parque Villas de Kennedy. Cross the park via the pedestrian path (again, carefully) and you'll come out directly onto Avenida 1ro de Mayo at Carrera 80. It's a neighborhood shortcut, the kind only locals know.

The Ferrocarril de Occidente Corridor

This is my personal gem. Behind the TransMilenio station on Avenida Américas with Carrera 68, there's an abandoned railway line running parallel to Avenida Ciudad de Cali. People use it as a dirt path. It's not an official bike lane, but it's compacted and direct. It connects from Calle 6 Sur to Calle 13. That said, it's lonely and you have to watch out for muggings. If you're in a group, it's wonderful. Alone, better not.

High-Risk Areas and How to Avoid Them

To be honest: Kennedy isn't the safest locality for cycling, but the danger isn't what you think. It's not the mugging (which exists), but the traffic. Here are the intersections that can send you to the hospital and how to dodge them.

The Intersection of Avenida Américas with Avenida Boyacá

It's the most critical point in the locality. Traffic is hellish, SITP buses don't respect the bike lane, and private car drivers are more focused on the traffic light than the cyclist. My recommendation: get off your bike and cross via the elevated pedestrian walkway on the southeastern side. It's a tough climb, but it guarantees you won't end up under an articulated bus.

The Curve of Avenida Ciudad de Cali with Calle 43 Sur

Here there's a design flaw: the bike lane ends abruptly, forcing you to cross four lanes of traffic to continue on the other side. It's a death trap. The solution: don't cross there. Keep going straight on the bike lane to Calle 40 Sur, where there's a pedestrian light that gives you more crossing time. It's an extra minute, but it saves your life.

The Passage Through Corabastos

I mentioned it before, but it's worth repeating: the Corabastos area (entrance via Avenida 1ro de Mayo with Carrera 80) is a high-risk zone due to the trucks. Trailer drivers can't see you because they're up high. The golden rule: never position yourself next to a truck at a traffic light. Always behind, and if you must overtake, do it on the left, where they have one less blind spot.

Bike + TransMilenio: The Combination That Actually Works

It's not all about pedaling end to end. Most of us who work downtown or in northern Bogotá use the bike + TransMilenio system. In Kennedy, there are key stations that let you make the switch without dying in the attempt.

Stations with Secure Bike Racks

• Américas – Carrera 53 Station: It has a large public bike rack, but it fills up by 7 am. If you arrive later, you'll have to lock your bike to a nearby pole (with a U-lock, not cables). It's the best option if you're coming from the south of the locality.
• Banderas Station: This is the gem. It has a supervised bike parking lot (for a fee) that operates until 8 pm. It's the safest in the locality. It's worth paying the $1,500 COP to leave your bike worry-free while you head up the Avenida Américas trunk line.
• Patio Bonito Station: It's the closest to the western part of Kennedy. The bike rack is small, but there's a private parking service right next to the entrance, run by a man who cares for the bikes as if they were his own. Ask for "Don Jaime".

The Feeder Bus Trick

If you live in deep southern Kennedy (Timiza, Tintal, Patio Bonito), the trick is to use the feeder routes with your bike. During peak hours, feeder buses have space for two bicycles in the back. The problem is people don't know this exists. Ask the driver to open the do