In the 1990s, Colombian cities were grappling with a wide range of transport challenges, most of which are all too familiar to the residents of urban areas around the world: chronic traffic congestion, alarming rates of road fatalities, and inadequate public transit. In a country where about three quarters of the population lives in cities, the shortcomings of the urban transport system had far-reaching consequences on economic productivity  and kept many people away from jobs, education, healthcare, or other essential services.