Barcelona has gone bicycle crazy!!!
KateHi all!
It’s official! Barcelona has gone Bicycle bonkers! I was at the beach yesterday and there were more people on 2 wheels than on foot! Small children, young couples and people old enough to be my grandparents were all joining in the craze!
But it’s not just about people enjoying a leisurely ride at the weekends…the bicyce has become a valid and increasingly popular mode of daily transport for many people in the city…me included! I mean, why take the metro when you can get there in the same amount of time without polluting the environment whilst getting fit at the same time??! 
Barcelona is now one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in Europe, with its ever-expanding network of cycle routes and special parking rails where we can leave our beloved 2-wheeled friends without fear of them being towed away!
But by far the most impressive addition to the Barcelona bike scene is the governemnent’s fantastic new cycle rental system - Bicing. If you have not yet heard about this yet…and I’m sure you have if you live here…let me explain! It is an original new project whereby you can pick up a bicycle at one part of the city, ride it to work…or wherever you have to go…and then return it to a ‘Bicing’ cycle park in another part of the city! Ingenious! All you have to do is apply, pay just 6 euros per year and you will receive a membership card in the post. With this card you then have access to all the ‘Bicing’ bikes throughout the city. This is great news for anyone who doesn’t want the expense or hassle of buying a bike of their own!
‘Bicing’ do make it clear, however, that the cycles are not really meant for recreational use and are supposed to be an altrenative form of public transport. So, if you are looking to hire a bike for the day, for example, you should go to one of Barcelona’s many hire shops. Some good ones include Bike rental Barcelona and Bicicleta Barcelona.
Happy cycling everyone!
Kate X
