Essential gear for cycling in your new city

On October 9, 2026, the Netcompany INEOS team confirmed in its official statement that Colombian climber Harold Tejada, 29 years old, joins from 2027. Half the country started talking about cycling again. But this text is not for the WorldTour: it is for whoever is going to take the bike out tomorrow in a city they don't yet know by heart.

I'll get straight to what matters: what you need to carry, what the rule says, and where to try it out without fighting buses and motorcycles on the first day.

What you must carry

There are three rules. None of them depends on whether you are an athlete.

1. Helmet

Resolution 20263040030675 of 2026 from the Ministry of Transport, in its article 5.16.8, makes bicycle helmets mandatory for users of non-motorized vehicles and for VELMPU electric bicycles. It stresses this especially if the rider is a minor or if there is a sporting, competitive or training event on public roads. You can read it in the text published in SISJUR.

Careful: old summaries are circulating that say adults are exempt. Those summaries describe the previous wording; the new one opens with the obligation and I wouldn't bet on an exception. While the Ministry does not publish the technical sheet, a bicycle helmet with certification from the country of origin is accepted. Article 6 makes the rule take effect the day after its publication in the Official Gazette.

2. Night lights

According to article 95 of the Traffic Code, as it was left by Law 1811 of 2016, at night the bike must carry a device in front that projects white light and one at the back that reflects red light (Función Pública).

3. Reflective gear

Article 94 of Law 769 of 2002 requires the rider and passenger to wear a visible reflective vest or jacket between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., and whenever visibility is poor. That last part matters: a downpour at 4 in the afternoon also counts.

What is advisable even though no article requires it

This is usage advice, not regulation. A lock that goes through the frame and the wheel, not only the wheel: the front wheel can be removed in seconds and you are left with a ring chained up. A rain cape, because in the city the sky changes without warning. Water on the handlebar. And the helmet fastened on every ride, even if it's just one block; a helmet on your head but loose is just decoration.

I won't give you brands or prices. In cycling shops and big stores there are helmets across very different ranges; for riding in the city you don't need a competition one. Compare fit, ventilation and whether it carries visible certification.

My honest opinion: spend first on helmet, lights and lock, and leave the rest for later. A nice jersey won't save you from anything.

Where to try out your gear without mixing with traffic

On the first day, better a circuit designed for bikes. In Bogotá, according to the IDRD, the Ciclovía runs every Sunday and holiday from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with a published circuit of 141.46 km, of which 13.75 km are bike lanes. Check the weekly bulletinbeforehand: on Sunday, October 4, 2026, for example, there were partial closures. For routes and how to join, you have the Colombia Move Ciclovía guide.

A safety warning the IDRD itself makes in that bulletin: its staff do not ask for personal belongings, nor for the bicycle, nor do they summon you to isolated places. If anyone asks you for any of these with any story, they are not from the institute.

In the Aburrá Valley there is EnCicla, the public bicycle system of the Metropolitan Area. Published hours: Monday to Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (last loan 9:00 p.m.); Saturdays from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (last loan 7:00 p.m.); Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (last loan 3:00 p.m., no manual station service). There is no service on holidays. In-person service is at Cra. 53 #40A-31, Metropolitan Area building, Medellín. A foreigner can register with a cédula de extranjería or a valid passport, with validation of up to 3 business days according to the EnCicla page.

If you don't have a bike yet, before buying a used one read the guide for inspecting a used bike. According to the active listings on Colombia Move (October 9, 2026), there are 3 bicycles for sale and 94 views in that category; supply remains short.

Monday, October 12, 2026: is there a Ciclovía?

It's a holiday, so many people are thinking about going out to ride. The IDRD program announces Sundays and holidays from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., but what counts is the week's bulletin if there are closures; I can't guarantee it from here. EnCicla, on the other hand, publishes that there is no service on holidays, so don't count on it that day.

A pedal bike doesn't go through procedures like a car

The law defines the bicycle as a non-motorized vehicle, so a conventional pedal bike does not go through the procedures required of a motor vehicle. That does not automatically apply to electric bicycles or scooters: if you have one, check its status with the official source. And if you have a spare bike, the route is not a procedures counter: go back to the used-purchase guide and use it as a reference for selling it clearly.

Frequently asked questions

❓ Is a helmet mandatory for commuting by bicycle?

Resolution 20263040030675 of 2026 says the bicycle helmet is mandatory for non-motorized vehicles and VELMPU electric bicycles. It highlights minors and those doing sport or training on public roads. While no technical sheet exists, it accepts certification from the country of origin. Don't assume adults are exempt (check the official source).

❓ What lights does the rule require at night?

At night, the bicycle must carry a white light in front and a device at the back that reflects red light. It is in article 95 of the Traffic Code (Law 769 of 2002), as left by article 9 of Law 1811 of 2016. A lit rear light helps more than a simple reflector (check the official source).

❓ At what time is a reflective vest needed?

Between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., and also when visibility is poor. Article 94 of Law 769 of 2002 requires it of the bicycle rider and their passenger, whether a reflective vest or jacket, visible from behind and from the front (check the official source).

❓ Does the Bogotá Ciclovía open on holidays?

The IDRD announces it every Sunday and holiday, from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Even so, check that week's bulletin, because there may be partial closures of sections, as happened on Sunday, October 4, 2026 (check the official source).

❓ Does EnCicla work on a Monday holiday?

No: its homepage says there is no service on holidays. From Monday to Friday it operates from 5:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and on Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A foreigner registers with a cédula de extranjería or a valid passport (check the official source).

❓ Does a pedal bicycle need SOAT or a license?

Don't treat it like a car: a conventional pedal bicycle is a non-motorized vehicle and is not managed like a motor vehicle. This answer does not cover electric bicycles, scooters or VELMPU, which have their own rules (check the official source).

❓ What should I buy first if I just arrived?

Helmet, white front light, red light or reflector at the back, and a reflective garment for night. Then a lock that goes through frame and wheel, and a rain cape. Prioritize fit and certification over style, and compare across several shops before deciding.