Heading to Bogota for Halloween? The city is rolling out its toughest motorcycle restrictions of the year for the 2026 holiday weekend, and they affect some of the best-known streets in the capital.
The measures run from the night of Wednesday, Oct. 29 through the early hours of Tuesday, Nov. 3. Between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. each night, motorcycles may not carry a passenger anywhere in the city. On top of that, all motorcycle traffic is banned from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. on 19 major corridors — including Carrera Septima, Calle 26, Calle 80, Avenida de las Americas, Avenida Boyaca, and both the Autopista Norte and Autopista Sur. Expect roughly 1,000 traffic police and civilian agents on the streets, backed by 21 mobile checkpoints.
The crackdown targets the so-called "rodadas del terror," or terror caravans — large groups of costumed motorcyclists who coordinate Halloween rides through social media. Many are harmless fun, but the city blames some rides for reckless stunts, deafening noise and blocked roads. Last year's enforcement produced 1,711 citations and 963 impounded bikes. The safety push seems to be working: road deaths during the 2025 holiday night hours dropped from four to one, and injuries fell by just over half.
Why should a traveller care? Motorcycles are everywhere in Bogota — around 13.5 million are registered across Colombia, making up 63% of the country's vehicle fleet — and locals rely on moto-taxis and delivery bikes daily. If you're staying out late on Halloween night, ride-hail cars rather than motorcycle taxis are the practical option, and journeys along the restricted corridors may be slower than usual. Breaking the rules carries a fine of 633,200 pesos (about US$159) plus impoundment, and that applies even to a passenger who knowingly hops on a restricted moto.
There are exemptions for identified delivery workers and emergency, security and public-service personnel, so food and parcels should still arrive. But if your Halloween plans involve the usual nightlife zones, build in extra time and expect heavier police presence than you might see on a normal weekend.
The festive side is still very much on: families and partygoers fill neighbourhoods like Chapinero and La Candelaria each year. The city's advice is simple — cross at designated points, keep your distance from big rider groups, and call 123 in an emergency. For visitors, the takeaway is that Bogota takes this weekend seriously, and a bit of planning around the restricted roads will keep a fun night from turning into a fine or a long walk home.
