Spain boosts cycling with Alicante's 185‑km bike network and new national road rules

Alicante's municipal government approved a 185‑kilometre bicycle route network as part of its new General Structural Plan, aiming to triple existing cycling infrastructure and create a "15‑minute city" where services are reachable by walking or cycling. The plan links the historic Vía Augusta and Vía Dianium corridors, coastal promenades from the port to Postiguet and Albufereta beaches, and extends into surrounding rural areas, integrating bike lanes with public transport, green corridors and parking solutions.

At the national level, Spain's Official State Gazette (BOE) issued a road ordinance that permits the removal of certain road shoulders to build segregated bike lanes, mandates a minimum 1.5‑metre lateral distance when overtaking cyclists, requires EU‑approved lights and helmets, and outlines proper cyclist routing in urban and highway contexts. The measures form part of the State Bicycle Strategy and the 2030 Safe, Sustainable and Connected Mobility Strategy, intended to expand a safer, more continuous cycling network across the country.