Barcelona most bike-friendly city on the Med
Barcelona has been recognized as the most bike-friendly city on the Mediterranean, appearing 11th in the world according to a newly released index of cycling in urban environments.
The Copenhagenize index praised Spain's second-largest city for its "firm, consistent commitment" to make its "citizens choose a bicycle for transport".
The report said the Catalan capital was "in a league of its own" when it came to other cities in the region.
The 7 reasons why Barcelona is best for bikes
"There is no El Clásico on the bicycle urbanism pitch, with Madrid so painfully far behind. Among the larger cities in the region and, indeed, around the Mediterranean, Barcelona maintains a leadership role. Light years ahead of Rome and other large Italian cities," read the report.
The annual index, by influential urban consulting firm Copenhagenize, pointed to city authorities employing "a mixture of traffic calming measures and infrastructure" to become a city where bicycles have "gained a foothold"
"The city's bike share programme is one of the best on the planet (measured by usage rates) and it has helped boost cycling levels across the board," the report said.
Seville was the only other Spanish city to make it into the top 20 and was ranked just ahead of Barcelona at number 10.
Top ten best bike rides of Spain
Europe dominated the rankings although Buenos Aires, Argentina and the US city of Minneapolis, Minnesota made their debuts in the index.
The top 20 cities in the 2015 Copenhagenize Index were:
1. Copenhagen, Denmark
2. Amsterdam, Netherlands
3. Utrecht, Netherlands
4. Strasbourg, France
5. Eindhoven, Netherlands
6. Malmö, Sweden
7. Nantes, France
8. Bordeaux, France
9. Antwerp, Belgium
10. Seville, Spain
11. Barcelona, Spain
12. Berlin, Germany
13. Ljubljana, Slovenia
14. Buenos Aires, Argentina
15. Dublin, Ireland
16. Vienna, Austria
17. Paris, France
18. Minneapolis, USA
19. Hamburg, Germany
20. Montréal, Canada
For more on the index, click on the image below
Comments
See Also
The Copenhagenize index praised Spain's second-largest city for its "firm, consistent commitment" to make its "citizens choose a bicycle for transport".
The report said the Catalan capital was "in a league of its own" when it came to other cities in the region.
The 7 reasons why Barcelona is best for bikes
"There is no El Clásico on the bicycle urbanism pitch, with Madrid so painfully far behind. Among the larger cities in the region and, indeed, around the Mediterranean, Barcelona maintains a leadership role. Light years ahead of Rome and other large Italian cities," read the report.
The annual index, by influential urban consulting firm Copenhagenize, pointed to city authorities employing "a mixture of traffic calming measures and infrastructure" to become a city where bicycles have "gained a foothold"
"The city's bike share programme is one of the best on the planet (measured by usage rates) and it has helped boost cycling levels across the board," the report said.
Seville was the only other Spanish city to make it into the top 20 and was ranked just ahead of Barcelona at number 10.
Top ten best bike rides of Spain
Europe dominated the rankings although Buenos Aires, Argentina and the US city of Minneapolis, Minnesota made their debuts in the index.
The top 20 cities in the 2015 Copenhagenize Index were:
1. Copenhagen, Denmark
2. Amsterdam, Netherlands
3. Utrecht, Netherlands
4. Strasbourg, France
5. Eindhoven, Netherlands
6. Malmö, Sweden
7. Nantes, France
8. Bordeaux, France
9. Antwerp, Belgium
10. Seville, Spain
11. Barcelona, Spain
12. Berlin, Germany
13. Ljubljana, Slovenia
14. Buenos Aires, Argentina
15. Dublin, Ireland
16. Vienna, Austria
17. Paris, France
18. Minneapolis, USA
19. Hamburg, Germany
20. Montréal, Canada
For more on the index, click on the image below
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.