The project includes activities to promote and develop sustainable mobility, encouraging cycling in Spanish cities.

The project includes activities to promote and develop sustainable mobility, encouraging cycling in Spanish cities.

The initiative was promoted by the Network of Cities for the Bicycle, an association that aims to generate a dynamic between Spanish cities, in order to facilitate and make safer the circulation of cyclists, especially in urban areas.

The Network of Cities for the Bicycle program was born with the aim of increasing bicycle travel in cities, taking into account the advantages offered by the modality in terms of health, reduction of pollution (reducing the impact of climate change and favoring the environment) and proven effectiveness in the realization of short distance journeys.

Its location is initially established among the municipalities, consortia and administrations associated with this group but, in turn and automatically, it is extended to all the municipalities and regions of the Spanish state that have among their objectives, the activities and purposes developed by the association, in short, to promote initiatives that favor bicycle travel in an efficient and safe way.

The initiative seeks to generate synergies between Spanish cities in order to facilitate and make safer and develop the circulation of cyclists. The various activities for the promotion and development of sustainable mobility are offered on the www.ciudadesporlabicicleta.org website.

The specific objectives were:

• Strengthen the Technical Secretariat of the network, as an administrative control and promotion body to increase its level of action.
• Improve the website, from the design to the information provided on it. Reworking of the contents and creation of spaces and forums for online debate, among other modifications.

Within the framework of the initiative, the Network has participated in or promoted conferences and meetings to promote the use of bicycles. The association is increasingly present at events and in the media, in order to disseminate the full potential of the bicycle and to disseminate projects in favour of its use and to promote favourable policies.

In October 2001, the third edition of the Public Bicycle Days was held. The association Network of Cities for the Bicycle collaborated in the organization of this event, which took place at the Palacio de la Magdalena in Santander.

During this meeting, a general balance of the public bicycle in Spain was made, a system that has proliferated in recent years and that according to the conclusions of the conference can still grow and improve. Likewise, and taking advantage of the meeting of all the municipalities and entities registered in the conference, the Network of Cities for the Bicycle continued in its campaign to attract members by informing the representatives of the regions of the advantages of joining it.

Another event promoted within the project was the day of reflection and debate “The bicycle in the city”, held in Madrid on March 8. During the session, the situation of the bicycle was analyzed in relation to various aspects: accidents, energy saving, traffic moderation, health, etc. Representatives of different ministries, RENFE, user associations, consultants and engineers took part in the conference.

The Network of Cities for the Bicycle participated in February 2011 in the Workshop on Sustainable Urban Mobility in Querétaro, Mexico, from February 7 to 14, 2011. The Network acted as an advisor in the implementation of public bicycles in the city. The different interventions showed the need to promote the use of non-polluting vehicles to curb climate change and improve the health of citizens, while at the same time recovering urban space for pedestrians.

In 2011 the Velocity Cycling Congress was held, the most important in the world of bicycles. The event took place in Seville from 23 to 25 March. The Network of Cities for the Bicycle offered its members discounts to facilitate their participation and attendance at the event. In the exhibitors’ area, the Network had a stand to publicize its activities and strengthen links with other similar European organizations.

In 2011, the National Bicycle Board was constituted, promoted by the Network of Cities for the Bicycle, with the aim of joining forces and objectives around the promotion of this sustainable means of transport.

The Second Meeting of Cities for Road Safety (17 and 18 February 2011, Cordoba), and the Celebration of the European Car-Free Day on 22 September, within the framework of the European Sustainable Mobility Week are other events in which the Network actively participated.

In addition, a direct action campaign was launched within the framework of the project aimed at municipalities that are not yet associate members of the Network of Cities for the Bicycle, to promote their adherence as well as to the objectives of the network.

Similarly, the Network held conferences and dissemination sessions, in addition to collaborating with activities that promote the use of bicycles, such as sports or tourism.

On the other hand, the website Biciregistro – National Bicycle Registry was created and developed. It is an information system for registering bicycles, owned by the Network of Cities for the Bicycle, which has the participation of the General Directorate of Traffic and different city councils.

In the context of the initiative, the Network of Cities for the Bicycle has collaborated in the edition of the book “Citizens, streets and cities”, published by the Human City Foundation of Colombia. The book takes a historical tour of bike lanes, while showing the experiences in the field that are carried out around the world. The Network collaborated directly in the publication with content and coordinating the contributions of other Spanish entities, such as the Mobility Foundation and the Alicante City Council.