By bicycle
Bicycles are one of the key modes of transport for short- or medium-distance journeys in Barcelona.
Bicycles are an alternative way of getting around on a daily basis and the most energy-efficient means of transport.
Furthermore, in the context of the Covid-19 crisis, bicycles are essential, as they don’t cause pollution and don’t occupy much space, while also minimising contact between people and making it possible to maintain social distancing.
Although there are currently over 200 kilometres of bicycle lanes available in the city, along with over 800 kilometres of pacified streets, the City Council is planning a series of measures to encourage the use of bicycles even more.
What are we doing about it?
In the first phase, 21 new kilometres of bicycle lanes were created. The city's new cycling corridors means a reduction in traffic lanes, both inside the city and for metropolitan connections.
- Where are they?
On Carrer de la Creu Coberta - Carretera de Sants (from Plaça d'Espanya to Riera Blanca); Carrer de València (between Carrer de Tarragona and Avinguda Meridiana); Carrer de la Indústria (between Avinguda de Gaudí and Carrer de Bailèn); Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes (between Carrer d'Aribau and Passeig de Gràcia); Via Augusta (from Avinguda Diagonal to Plaça de Molina); Carrer de Los Castillejos (from Avinguda Diagonal to Travessera de Gràcia); Carrer de Roger de Llúria (from Plaça d'Urquinaona to Avinguda Diagonal); Carrer de Pau Claris (from Plaça d'Urquinaona to Avinguda Diagonal); Avinguda Meridiana (from Fabra i Puig to Avinguda de Rio de Janeiro), and Passeig de Santa Coloma.
In addition to the new corridors and lanes already created, more operations will be carried out in the second phase in order to further improve the city's infrastructure for cyclists and foster mobility using bicycles.
This set of measures is aimed at creating two new corridors. A total of 8 kilometres will be added to the bicycle lane network.
- Carrer d'Aragó (between Avinguda Meridiana and Carrer de Tarragona): a new, one-way bicycle lane will be created on the seaward side, replacing one traffic lane. This will mean 4.8 kilometres of new bicycle lanes crossing the whole Eixample.
- Passeig de la Zona Franca (between Plaça de Cerdà and Carrer dels Motors): there will be new, one-way bicycle corridors on both sides, reaching a total of 3.2 new kilometres (1.6 each way).
After the pause caused by Covid-19, the Bicing service was reactivated (23 April) with 57 new operational stations (there are now over seventy of them) and with preventative health measures for service users and service staff.
From now on, Bicing users must abide by the following regulations:
- Wash your hands, with hand sanitiser or soap and water, before and after each journey, in order to avoid any hypothetical indirect contagion.
- Use a face mask.
- Use gloves, which must be thrown away once you have returned the bicycle.
- Maintain a safety distance of two metres from other cyclists and people travelling on the same roadway.
- Avoid touching your face during the journey.
- If you need to cough or sneeze, cover your mouth with the crook of your arm.
Furthermore, try to use the Bicing app on your mobile phone when taking and returning bicycles.
Promoting respect for cyclists in streets declared 30 km/h zones. Preference for bicycles on these streets is signposted and this is reinforced by an awareness-raising campaign to foster respect for cyclists from the drivers of motorised vehicles.
Awarding the definitive licences for the bike-sharing and motorbike-sharing operators (multi-user bicycles and motorbikes). The aim is to facilitate use of shared bicycles and electric motorbikes that are for individual use, which form part of sustainable mobility.