Copenhagenize Consulting - Building Better Bicycle CulturesCopenhagenize Index 2011


#3 Barcelona
#3
The Copenhagenize Report
There were no bicycles in Barcelona a mere five years ago and now the city puts many Emerging Bicycle Cities to shame with their excellent efforts bringing the bicycle back to the urban landscape and marketing it positively. The city's investment in bicycle infrastructure and their bike share programme have boosted bicycle use among Citizen Cyclists and the local advocacy NGO is determined to improve conditions. With the implementation of 30 km/h zones in many neighbourhoods, with brilliant results for reducing injury to pedestrians and cyclists, Barcelona is the yardstick that many other new bicycle cities should measure themselves by.

Copenhagenize Fixes
What Barcelona needs now, more than ever, is political leadership and visionary political decision-making. Continuing investment in infrastructure to make the bicycle the quickest way from A to B, as well as modern marketing aimed at getting more citizens to choose the bicycle are the way forward. A more uniform design of the bicycle network and filling in the gaps are of utmost importance. There is no reason why Barcelona can't be the next great global cycling city. The city could enjoy the enormous benefits of branding themselves as a role model for urban centres all over the planet. We salute the city's plans to implement 30 km zones in 80% of the city, but more must be done to tackle the scooter culture.

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