The president of the Network of Cities for the Bicycle, Antoni Poveda, calls for a political consensus on the promotion of bicycles and cycling infrastructures, as a common sustainable mobility option for citizens, and requests that bike lanes in Spain not be dismantled , “a key infrastructure”.
Poveda made this request at a time when political representatives were changing in the town halls and before statements against maintaining bike lanes, which, according to him, “have generated some uncertainty about the future of cycling infrastructure without going through a social debate.”
“The bicycle must be a reason for political consensus, beyond any color and any acronym, as is already the case in other European countries, where all parties support its use and which have become true references for active mobility. and sustainable”, points out Poveda.
It recalls the contribution of this means of transport to the main challenges related to pollution, noise, health and energy that societies currently face.
“The bike cannot be part of any electoral or political strategy. A deep reflection must be made on the city model before undoing what has already been built,” he adds.
In his opinion, “the bicycle and its investments should be considered as a strategic element, with a clear and broad political consensus that allows for the consolidation of safer, more sustainable and healthier cities.”
Remember that both town halls and regional councils and governments have made investments and projects in favor of the bicycle and, in addition, the Council of Ministers approved the State Strategy for the Bike 2 years ago with more than 100 actions in favor of this means of transport.
The 2022 Bicycle Barometer, the largest state-wide study on this means of transport, confirms that the use of the bicycle reached all-time highs that year, with a growth of more than 4 points compared to 2019, before the pandemic.
Specifically, 57.1% of residents in Spain between the ages of 14 and 79 (close to 20 million people) use the bicycle with some frequency and more than 11 million use it weekly.
The Network of Cities for the Bicycle integrates more than 750 municipalities throughout Spain.
