bicingwatch

The Copenhagenize Index 2013 - Barcelona

2013-05-18T21:20:00.002+02:00

The Copenhagenize Index 2013 - Barcelona:

Barcelona fell from a lofty 3rd place in 2011 to #12 this year. A lot of competition entered the Index this time around and Barcelona suffered from it. After a few years of insistent progress, it seems that Barcelona has plateaued. Cities that slow down after having showed us visionary leadership can be frustrating. There are a handful of cities poised for promotion to the premier league of cycling cities and Barcelona is certainly one of them.

536.000€ for bicycle infrastructure in Barcelona

2013-03-26T00:15:00.004+01:00

536.000 is not much for a city like Barcelona, but it is a start. Mayor of London Boris Johnson, just recently announced a £913 million (1077 million €) plan for London.
Compared to the amount that is spent on car infrastructure in Barcelona this is obviously not a lot.

elperiodico.com: BCN mejorará la seguridad en 10 cruces de carril bici

El Ayuntamiento de Barcelona destinará 563.000 euros a realizar actuaciones urgentes de mejora en la infraestructura ciclista de la ciudad. De estos, 130.000 servirán para incrementar la seguridad en los 10 cruces que se han detectado que son más peligrosos

lavanguardia.com: Barcelona destinará más de medio millón a mejoras "urgentes" de la infraestructura ciclista

Una cuarta parte se destinará a corregir la seguridad de los 10 cruces que registran más accidentes | Rambién se convertirá la calle Provença en "un gran carril bici", desde Camp de l'Arpa hasta la Estación de Sants

...

Obligar a llevar casco, "innecesario"
Freixedes también ha calificado este lunes de "innecesario" el nuevo reglamento de la Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) que contempla obligar a los ciclistas a usar casco incluso en zonas urbanas, y ha apostado por seguir simplemente recomendándolo.

bcn.cat: Mesures de xoc a les cruïlles amb més accidents de bicicletes

bcn.cat: Gairebé 1 de cada 5 barcelonins té bicicleta pròpia

2013-03-19T20:11:00.003+01:00

bcn.cat: Gairebé 1 de cada 5 barcelonins té bicicleta pròpia:

L'última enquesta de qualitat de la ciutat revela que el 18,5% dels barcelonins tenen bicicleta privada. Els aparcaments per a bicicletes i l'ampliació dels carrils bici han fet que el ciutadà doni una nota de 6,6 sobre 10 a la mobilitat en bicicleta.

El Periódico: ¿Casco? No, gracias

2013-03-13T20:06:00.000+01:00

El Periódico: ¿Casco? No, gracias:

El ayuntamiento admite que el Bicing quedaría muy tocado y también se opone al nuevo código

Los ciclistas rechazan la imposición de la DGT y reclaman más esfuerzo para evitar los accidentes

ECF: The Pain in Spain: Revisited

2013-03-12T19:48:00.000+01:00

ECF: "The Pain in Spain: Revisited":

Spain is proposing some rather nasty legislation, which includes a compulsory helmet law. ECF’s Road Safety Officer, Ceri Woolsgrove, explains why this is bad news.

“If I were looking to introduce cheap and easy laws to devastate cycling in a country with a growing number of cyclists, I think that would do the job nicely.”

bcn.cat: Bicing services are to close an hour later on Thursday and Friday nights

2013-03-08T12:40:00.000+01:00

bcn.cat: Bicing services are to close an hour later on Thursday and Friday nights:

As from Friday, 8 March, Bicing services will be staying open an hour longer on Thursday and Friday nights, closing at 3 am.

See also the original notice on the bicing website.

El Pais: La síndica reclama bonificar los viajes de Bicing a las zonas que hagan subida

2013-01-24T20:26:00.000+01:00

El Pais: La síndica reclama bonificar los viajes de Bicing a las zonas que hagan subida:

La síndica de Greuges de Barcelona, Maria Assumpció Vilà, ha lanza hoy diversas recomendaciones al Ayuntamiento sobre el Bicing. Vilà se muestra partidaria de tarifar por minutos los tramos de usos superiores a la primera media hora en lugar de aplicar a los usuarios un sobrecoste fijo como ahora, y bonificar los viajes a las zonas que hacen subida

bcn.cat: Work begins on extending C/ Girona's bicycle lane

2013-01-17T22:18:00.000+01:00

About time! Sadly I don't live in Eixample any more, but this would have made my commute to work much easier and safer two years ago. We need more of these bike lanes connecting the sea with the hills.

bcn.cat: Work begins on extending C/ Girona's bicycle lane:

This week saw the start to work on extending the current bike lane on C/ Girona, adding a new section to it that will stretch from C/ Consell de Cent right up to C/ Còrsega. The aim is to provide a cyclist infrastructure that connects the districts of Gràcia and Ciutat Vella.

La Vanguardia: Los ciclistas de Barcelona sólo aceptan dejar la acera si no se ven expuestos al tráfico

2013-01-17T09:13:00.000+01:00

The recent BACC survey results are in. The answers are not unexpected and reflect what is happening in other cities.

Safety and theft are the number one problems.

La Vanguardia: Los ciclistas de Barcelona sólo aceptan dejar la acera si no se ven expuestos al tráfico:

"Nueve de cada diez (91,4%) prefiere carriles bici segregados con protección -como con separadores- que los integrados en la calzada | Anteponen circular protegidos con carriles segregados y atajar los robos"

bcn.cat: Barcelona sees a fall in the number of road accident deaths

2013-01-16T19:57:00.001+01:00

bcn.cat: Barcelona sees a fall in the number of road accident deaths:

The number of bicycles involved in accidents also rose to 691 (an increase of 32.12%) caused mainly by traffic light violations and drivers not paying sufficient attention. However, bicycles were only involved in 3.84% of the total number of accidents reported.

2013 might bring new usage fees for bicing

2012-03-21T15:16:00.001+01:00

via bcn.cat "Bicing scheme to have commercial sponsorship and a free space for non-profit organisations":

Recasens also announced that from 2013 a new tariff system will be introduced, replacing the current single tariff of 45 euros per year. "It will be fairer because it will distinguish between occasional and regular uses of the scheme", she said.

The number of subscribers has stabilised and currently stands at 122,000, although more use is made of the service, a fact that the Council attributes to the latest improvements that have been introduced, such as the extension of the night-time hours from midnight to 2 am (with 800 daily uses) the 18% increase in the morning replacement of bikes, a new computer system and the e-Bicing app.

Sightline Daily: Two Wheels and High Heels

2012-01-24T09:34:00.001+01:00

via Sightline Daily: Two Wheels and High Heels:

"Bike-share programs are sweeping the world but not, as yet, Cascadia. They are very successful at boosting bike numbers. Apparently, people used to point and stare if you were pedaling in Barcelona. Bicing, Barcelona’s bike share program, has changed that in just a few years. Bicing started in 2007 and quickly tripled cycling trips according to Miquel Ruscalleda, who directs Barcelona’s cycling efforts."

Very good article with an overview of cycling in cities all over the world.

I can confirm the pointing and staring happening a few years ago in Barcelona.

Bizi Zaragoza: 3.2 million bicycle trips in 2011

2012-01-12T14:04:00.001+01:00

via heraldo.es "El servicio Bizi supera los 7 millones de usos desde su inicio":

"En 2011, el servicio Bizi sumó 3.200.000 usos más y llegó a los 7 millones de desplazamientos, desde que comenzó en 2008. El año pasado, se amplió el servicio, llegando a 130 estaciones, 1.300 bicis y 39.000 abonados.

El Bizi comenzó en 2008 para le Expo, con 30 paradas, 300 bicicletas y un precio promocional de 6 euros. Tras la Expo, el abono anual pasó a 20 y ahora cuesta 25.

El incremento de usos ha sido progresivo: 220.000 en 2008, 1.480.000 en 2009, 2.100.000 en 2010 y 3.200.000, en 2011."

bcn.cat: 26% rise in the number of accidents involving bicycles

2012-01-11T14:54:00.000+01:00

via bcn.es - Traffic fatalities in the city drop by 20% :

"While motorcycle- and moped-related accidents have dropped by 1% and 16% respectively, the number of bicycle-related accidents has risen, representing 3% of all vehicles involved in accidents.
With more than 106,000 bicycle journeys made every day, bicycle-related accidents in the city have risen in number from close to 400 in 2010 to more than 520 in 2011, which corresponds to a 26% increase in their accident rate."

Bicing cyclist killed by truck on cycle-lane

2012-01-03T14:54:00.001+01:00

Via el pais: "Muere una ciclista en Barcelona arrollada por un camión"

The cyclist was using bicing on the cycle-lane on C/Diputació. The truck driver turned right crossing the lane and hitting the bicing user. The 49 year old woman was killed instantly.

More coverage:

bicing will open two hours longer on weekdays

2011-12-29T15:52:00.000+01:00

via abc.es: Bicing amplía el horario nocturno tras cerrar el año con un 30% más de viajes :

"El servicio municipal de alquiler de bicicletas "Bicing" ampliará dos horas más el horario entre semana, hasta las 2 de la madrugada, después de cerrar 2011 con un aumento del 30 por ciento de los viajes, ha informado hoy el Ayuntamiento de Barcelona."

Some other interesting bits from the article:

Compared with 2010 data, this year there have been 30 percent more trips, so that a bike uses have increased from 11.1 to 14.6 million.
One measure is to introduce advertising on the bicycles, for which the City is already negotiating with some interested advertisers

The announcement of the change in hours is also available on the bicing website.

Bicing subscription increases to 40 Euro + 4 Euro Insurance

2011-12-15T09:36:00.002+01:00

via bcn.cat "Bicing will have a compulsory, 4-euro insurance policy":

"Bicing users will have to take out a mandatory 4-euro insurance policy that covers third-party claims, first-party damage and injury, and legal assistance. This is in addition to the rise in the Bicing charge from 35 to 40 euros announced among the new public-sector charges for 2012."

The article also points out that this will rise further in the future until the users are covering 40% of the cost of the service, with the current change they are now paying 25%.

The increase in costs is 15% excluding the insurance. At the same time the city managed to reduce the cost of bicing from 13850000 Euro by 350000 Euro, which is a decrease of 2%.

As I personally don't live in the bicing zone any more, I have to reconsider continuing with my subscription. I am going to continue using it next year, but there are is certainly a limit I am willing to pay per month.

I am also not happy with the compulsory insurance policy, unless the legal assistance will help me with ridiculous charges by the police. I fear this is just money going to the insurance company without any benefits to the user.

More information about the change also on bicing.cat.

There are now as many people using bicycles as the Rodalies network

2011-11-22T09:35:00.001+01:00

Via lavanguardia.com and elpais.com:

"Unas 450.000 catalanes utilizan a diario o casi a diario la bicicleta. En el año 2006 lo hacían poco más de la mitad, unas 246.000 personas. Es un incremento muy importante en el uso frecuente de la bicicleta. En este momento ya hay tantos usuarios diarios de este medio de transporte como usuarios de la red de Rodalies, indicó ayer el director general de Territori i Mobilitat de la Generalitat, Ricard Font."

Some numbers:

450.000 use a bicycle each day
1,4 mill. use a bicycle once a week
2,5 mill. use a bicycle sometimes
3,5 mill. own a bicycle

Copenhagenize Index 2011: Barcelona on third place

2011-09-21T10:12:00.001+02:00

Barcelona makes third on the Copenhagenize Index of bicycle friendly cities ( http://www.copenhagenize.eu/index/ ). Only Amsterdam and Copenhagen rank higher.

Quote: "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."

Cycling Dope: Counting Cyclists in Barcelona

2011-08-09T08:58:00.001+02:00

from Cycling Dope: Counting Cyclists in Barcelona:

"Not bad at all. A Bicycle Counter in Barcelona, on Passeig de Sant Joan. We pass it every day on the way to the beach. It's the busiest bicycle lane in the city but it's slow these days with everyone on holiday." continue on Cycling Dope ...

Bicing Spider: bicycle sharing data visualization (Beta)

2011-04-07T12:02:00.000+02:00

Check out Bicing Spider: bicycle sharing data visualization (Beta) , a bicing visualization too for OS X.

Bicing Spider: bicycle sharing data visualization from JP Carrascal on Vimeo.

From the site: "This app will load a (static Google) map of Barcelona and will superimpose a visualization of the current state of the bicing stations near the cursor. Every station is represented with a color-coded circle: the radius of the circle is inversely proportional to the distance from the cursor position (the closer, the bigger), and its color represents the amount of bikes available. If green, the station is full of bikes. If red, there are no bikes available. Possible tones in-between will give an idea of the amount of bikes."

Winners of the Bicing Photo Competion

2011-04-04T20:41:00.001+02:00

The bicing story by MikeRubbo on YouTube

2011-03-11T22:55:00.000+01:00

bcn.cat: Barcelona is the first Spanish city to install traffic lights for bike

2011-02-25T17:05:00.000+01:00

bcn.cat reports:

The City Council is installing specific traffic lights for bikes in order to improve the safety of cyclists. These are smaller, lower and make use of LED technology.

Now people just learn to stop at red lights.

Situp-cycle.com: "Toss the Albatross: Bike share needs helmet choice"

2011-01-18T13:57:00.000+01:00

Good article on Situp-cycle.com: "Toss the Albatross: Bike share needs helmet choice" about how the helmet requirement holds back the bike sharing scheme in Melbourne. With an video report from a similar sized scheme in Dublin.

I am pretty sure that bicing wouldn't be the success that it is if helmets were compulsory.