At Alberg Centre Esplai we are very lucky to be next to a city like Barcelona which, year after year, shows more and more commitment to the sustainability of the city. One of the ways in which it manifests this is the involvement and motivation it shows in the use of the bicycle as a standard means of transport within the city.
There is an increasing amount of infrastructure for practicing sustainable activities in the city: there are nearly 2,000 kilometers of cycling routes and more than 264 kilometers of bike lanes, including all routes, streets and suitable bike lanes, as explained by the Barcelona City Council. In addition, Barcelona has a shared bike service called Bicing , which is a very comfortable and practical way to get around the city.
Using the bicycle as a means of transport in the big city or metropolitan area has many advantages! In addition to contributing to the reduction of gas emissions into the atmosphere, it will also bring you great benefits in the personal and health areas:
It represents a great economic saving.
Helps preserve the environment.
Reduces stress levels.
Strengthen and tone your body.
Improves the immune system.
It gives you the opportunity to discover unique places.
If you’re visiting Barcelona, you’ll probably use many more types of transport, which is why we’ve prepared a complete guide to Barcelona’s public transport. This way, you can check which one best suits your itinerary!
Barcelona bike lane map
In this interactive map that we show you below (you can also download it in PDF format), you can see all the bicing lanes that exist in the city of Barcelona. In addition, if you activate other options on the map, you can see the bike lanes that are under construction, the green roundabouts, 30 zones, “cyclable” routes, anchor points and, even, parking with spaces for bicycles!
In addition, we would like to remind you that within the Alberg Centre Esplai we have a bicycle rental service in case you prefer to take a walk through the Llobregat Delta and practice Birdwatching!
Bicing prices and rates
Bicing rates offer two subscription options: Flat Rate (ideal if you will make many trips during the year) and Per-use Rate (more suitable for occasional use). There are also combined subscriptions with AMBici for metropolitan travel. The rental price varies depending on the type of rate and the minutes of use of the bicycle. If you need more information, visit the official Bicing website where the prices are indicated in detail.
Apps
SMOU
With the SMOU app (Android and IOS) you can use all the features of the Bicing service: check the stations on the map and the availability of bicycles and anchors in real time, reserve a bike, manage your journey history and obtain information about your subscription, including status, renewal or the applied rate. In addition, you can request 10 additional free minutes if the station is full.
Joc Bicing
The Joc Bicing app, available for iOS and Android, rewards healthy and sustainable behaviors through a gamification system and encourages physical activity. You can earn points for each mechanical bicing journey, completing your personal station, overcoming challenges and achieving special challenges that are proposed periodically.
AMBici
This application (Android and IOS) allows you to plan your bike trips, searching for the nearest stations and the availability of bikes and parking on the map. The bikes are 100% electric, offering a comfortable and efficient trip. It also allows you to rent a bike by scanning the QR code to open the lock automatically. When you finish your journey, you can return the bike to the station and check in the app that you have done it correctly. A practical tool for moving sustainably around the city!
Tips for driving safely
We also provide you with these instructions that will help you know what the rules are when it comes to cycling in Barcelona! It is very important to comply with them so that there is good safety on the city’s roads and streets.
Bicycle traffic rules:
- You can only ride your bicycle on bike lanes, 30-speed zones and pacified streets. You can use the sidewalk as long as it is 3 meters wide and there are no lanes of the above.
- Under 16 years old: must wear an approved helmet at all times and on all types of roads.
- Over 16 years old: helmets are only mandatory on interurban roads.
- The elements that cannot be missing on a bicycle when riding around the city are: a bell, front and rear position lights and approved reflective elements.
- Bicycles must be parked in specialized areas: anchor points found throughout the city or underground parking lots.