Anti Cycling Laws in Spain

Press release

Directorate General of Traffic willing to put an end to cycling in Spain

The detailed regulations which are to develop the "Law on adaptation of traffic rules to cycling" have entered a short phase of public hearing, so that the groups of citizens affected by the new decree can express their opinion on it.

This draft decree is even more restrictive than the law in itself, which we know already as the "anti-cyclist law". Several of the articles of what could be the new detailed regulations on cycling reflect an obvious will to reduce cycle accidents by strangling cycling in all its modalities.

It will be mandatory to wear a helmet when cycling anywhere outside urban areas, except on "prolonged ascending ramps". No matter whether it is a quiet route or if it is very hot, nor if the cyclist rides on a leisure trip or sets out to farm work. No other European country obliges cyclists to wear a helmet. Now the traffic police will ask foreign cyclists to "justify that in their country it is not mandatory" to wear reflective clothing and a helmet, and the cyclists will have to purchase them "at the first place where they are available". Who will want to visit the inland villages of Spain in an environmentally respectful way and to the benefit of local economy, if one can do it at one's ease in other countries but here finds all kind of obstacles? Goodbye, village bike, green tourism and cycle tourism.

Moreover, young families will have to limit their movements on bicycle to urban areas. They will not be allowed to carry their young children from an outlying suburb to the town square or to school, nor from the city to the open field or to the beach (except if there happens to exist a cycle way). Goodbye, everyday cycling and leisure cycling.

"If there exists no other alternative route to make the travel", authorities "may" (or may not) authorize cycling on freeways (Spanish 'autovias'). Cycling on freeways will only be permitted if cyclists "justify the need for their travel and if there exist no other means of public or private transport". When it comes to exist, nearly always there exists an alternative route, even if it tours half of a province or is a tractor path; and most sports cyclists also own a car, so they will have to use it for training purposes. Goodbye too, cycling stars.

ConBici sent fundamented alternative proposals to the Directorate General for Traffic, e. g. the proposal to put the rules in line with the legal practice for child-carrying and helmet-wearing in the EU countries, or to provide for adequate alternative routes before forbidding to cycle on freeways. They have not been taken into account. For the Director General of Traffic, cyclists are a "nuisance" on roads (TV program "Línea 900" of Feb. 20, 2000). We are denouncing such anti-cyclist policy with our means: As a member of the Spanish Supreme Council of Traffic and Road Safety, ConBici asked for a meeting with the responsibles from the Directorate General of Traffic and a thorough revision of the decree. At the same time, together with many other associations and the most well-known personalities in the world of cycling, we signed a letter of protest addressed to the Head of Government. We will continue to take all actions at our reach to reverse the present policy and to create a cycle-friendly climate in Spain.

ConBici, Coordinadora en Defensa de la Bici
Barcelona, March 7, 2000.

For more information on this topic, you can also read Trento Bike Pages.

© Karl Brodowsky

2010-07-23 [count: 499] (http://www.velofahren.de/e_spain.html [2489])