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Barcelona targets bullying drivers – in bid to get cyclists off pavementsBarcelona Bicing Hire Scheme copyright Simon MacMichael.png

Barcelona targets bullying drivers – in bid to get cyclists off pavements

Catalan capital also plans to restrict size of cycle tour groups riding off road
by Simon_MacMichael
Wed, Nov 26, 2014 19:19
11

Barcelona plans to make its streets safer for cyclists by fining motorists who intimidate people on bikes, such as by beeping their horns or overtaking them too closely. The proposed changes to the law are also partly aimed at getting tourist groups on bikes off pavements to make them safer for pedestrians.

According to the website The Local, the draft regulations being considered by the city’s council will clamp down on “disrespectful” driving and make cyclists feel more confident riding on the road.

City authorities also plan banning people from riding on pavements less than 4.75 metres wide amid concerns over tour groups, including people not used to cycling, who ride on Barcelona’s pavements – an issue of particular concern in older areas where footways are narrower.

Besides amending regulations over the width of pavements that people are allowed to ride on, It is proposed that the size of groups that are allowed to do so on those wider than 4.75 metres be restricted to no more than 15 people, plus three tour guides.

The Local says that proposals to fine motorists who bully cyclists has cross-party support, apart from the Popular Party – which forms Spain’s current government – which instead is calling on councils around the country to target “antisocial” cyclists.

Barcelona
Simon MacMichael

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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11 comments

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don simon fbpe | 9 years ago
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In other Spanish news... http://www.theleader.info/article/45622/spain/national/on-your-bike-guar...

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cerutticolumn | 9 years ago
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Hi, first post, so be gentle.
I live and cycle in Barcelona so just thought it would be useful to provide a bit of context to the article. The title seems promising from a cyclists point of view, but I won´t be cracking open the cava just yet. First off, there exists a huge 'implementation gap' in virtually all public policies in Spain, i.e., a nice sounding law is passed, only for it never to be enforced. As an example, in recent years we have seen the introduction of lots of 30km/h zones, but they are rarely, if at all, policed.
Second, the general climate from the authorities is quite hostile to cyclists. We are something that has to be 'regulated' so we don't annoy other users - especially drivers. I could go on....rubbish bike lanes, lack of investment in the bike-share scheme etc...

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P3t3 | 9 years ago
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Make the roads nice so cyclists don't want to cycle on the pavement - what a breath of fresh air logical response! We can only dream of having councillors this intelligent!

Not sure that the policy will actually work, but at least it makes an attempt to tackle the problem not the symptom. We would probably be sending out the PCSO's on a ticket target and getting the speed guns out here...

This also has to be seen again a backdrop of a city that really does seem to be making an effort for cycling. There was plenty of proper hard infra going in when I was there a couple of years ago but it looked like it needed a fair bit more work to join it all up.

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Bez | 9 years ago
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Splitters.

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kie7077 replied to Bez | 9 years ago
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Bez wrote:

Splitters.

?

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balmybaldwin | 9 years ago
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Restricting tour groups on pavements to 18? Thats rediculous no wonder they want cyclists off the pavements sounds like a complete nightmare for pedestrians. Surely the answer should have been to ban guided groups from pavements altogether.

Good to hear proposals to tackle intimidating driving. Hopefully this will work beautifully and be an example that will allow the uk to follow.

Personally I feel shared use paths, dedicated cycle paths, painted bike lanes etc undermine cyclists safety as much as help us, simply because the reinforce the idea that bikes shouldnt be on the road. They should, and people in society should look out for each other. Unfortunately with the state of our society these days I fear segregation etc is the only hope, and that is the main reason why now if I want to go out on one of my bikes its invariably the mountain bike, as ive had enough near death experiences already. Love taking the roadie out abroad though

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JonD replied to balmybaldwin | 9 years ago
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balmybaldwin wrote:

Restricting tour groups on pavements to 18? Thats rediculous no wonder they want cyclists off the pavements sounds like a complete nightmare for pedestrians. Surely the answer should have been to ban guided groups from pavements altogether.

Err...that's a ban on groups on <15.6 ft paths - 16 ft is wider than a lot of roads !

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pmanc replied to balmybaldwin | 9 years ago
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balmybaldwin wrote:

Personally I feel shared use paths, dedicated cycle paths, painted bike lanes etc undermine cyclists safety as much as help us, simply because the reinforce the idea that bikes shouldnt be on the road.

I feel that providing good quality dedicated cycling infrastructure (including closing roads or through routes to private motor vehicles for the purpose) indicates to all that cycling is valued, equally with, or even above driving. The opposite of marginilising or undermining cycling.

Note that where cycling does have the best dedicated infrastructure (Netherlands, Denmark) cyclists are most accepted and respected, partly because everyone is able to cycle without fear. Of course there's a chicken/egg argument to be had, but we've been trying the "just persuade everyone to play nicely together" tactic for decades now, and look where it's got us. 2

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kie7077 | 10 years ago
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So how many pedestrians have been KSI'd by these crazy pavement mounting tourists? And how many cyclists were KSI'd by drivers during the same period?

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ironmancole | 10 years ago
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Yeah he's seen it...has sent his support to the Popular Party 37

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Daveyraveygravey | 10 years ago
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Oi Cameron have you seen this?!

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