Mobility and transport

Along with pedestrians, motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable when it comes to accident rates in the Catalan capital, with proportionately high numbers of injuries and deaths.

Which is why Barcelona City Council has made sure that the Local Road Safety Plan for 2019-2022 and the new Urban Mobility Plan (PMU) for 2019-2024, currently being drafted, will include specific new measures relating to motorbikes.

At the City Council:

• We’re working to implement new technologies which will help cars, buses and lorries detect two-wheeled vehicles and pedestrians.
• We’re continuing to roll out traffic-calmed areas in many parts of the city. Reducing speed limits from 50 km/h to 30, 20 or 10 km/h, cutting accident rates and their severity.
• We’ve created over 10,000 new on-street parking places for motorbikes, as well as underground parking with special pricing.
• We’re using the Local Road Safety Plan and the Urban Mobility Plan to specifically include motorbikes, generating a safer city where the various means of transport function better side by side.

For drivers or riders of any type of vehicle:

• Comply with the regulations. Respect traffic lights and speed limits, use indicators and avoid inappropriate turns.
• Avoid distractions. Drive or ride using all five senses.
• Respect the space you share with other drivers and pedestrians and don’t move into bike lanes unless you are cycling.
• Be wary of blind spots and motorbikes and bicycles. They are the most vulnerable vehicles.
• Don’t drive or ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

And specifically for motorbike riders:

• Be more cautious with heavy vehicles and during reduced visibility.
• Be seen: indicate your intentions.
• Get properly kitted out and always wear your helmet fastened, gloves and protective clothing.
• Take extra care. In an accident, we’re all victims.

Barcelona currently has over 175,000 on-street parking spaces for motorbikes, including spaces signposted in roads and areas where current regulations allow motorbikes to be parked on the pavement, as well as off-road parking.

Today's Barcelona meets the technical safety requirements for designing urban spaces, such as rails with safety barriers, anti-slip road paint and specific designs for pedestrian crossings to prevent skidding.