The new Bilbaobizi service is already underway: more bicycles, higher fares and technological improvements
The renovated municipal electric bicycle loan service was launched on Monday with 790 units, new stations and a new usage tariff model. The City Council is committed to more sustainable mobility, but price increases have generated controversy.
Bilbao has already launched the new model of the public service of electric bicycles Bilbaobizi, which has a total of 790 bicycles and starts with two new anchor points, at 39 Zurbaranbarri Street and 6 Ignacio Ellakuria Street, and which is expected to increase its network throughout the year, with 1,250 bicycles and 68 stations to meet the growing demand, especially in the upper suburbs of the city.
Among the main innovations of the system are technological improvements to reduce vandalism, such as locking in the rear wheel, GPS location, acoustic alert and deformable sludge protection. Bicycles also have LED lights that are activated pedaling to comply with European regulations, and electric support will be deactivated from 25 km/h.
New tariffs and conditions of use
The new tariff system advocates a user-based payment model with two payment methods:
- Regular users: Those who use a bike every day will have a fee of 25 euros a year, but they will also have to pay one cent for every minute they use the bike.
- Occasional users: Rates will be set according to the time spent.
Spending limit: Ohko users will pay a maximum of 72 euros a year.
More innovation
Return of damaged bicycles at no cost: If the user detects that the bike has a mechanical failure, he can return it without penalty and take another one at the same stop for five minutes, provided he reports the incident.
According to data provided by the City Council, two million people have used Bilbaobizi since 2024. The City Council, in its presentation in May, explained that the aim of the renewed system is to consolidate this trend and use it as a sustainable alternative.
However, the increase in prices has aroused criticism. The cost to regular users will increase from EUR 20.2 to EUR 61 per year, which, according to estimates, could lead to a reduction in the number of subscribers 20 and the number of journeys by 25. However, the City Council expects revenue to increase by around EUR 1 million per year, and the companies that manage the service will benefit by 6%.
With this initiative, Bilbao aims to strengthen its sustainable mobility network and move towards a cleaner and healthier city model.
You might like
A 36-year-old Basque mountaineer was seriously injured in Asturias when a rock fell as he climbed
Apparently, the stone has fallen about 300 metres above where the woman was, who has suffered severe head trauma and has been transferred to the Asturias General University Hospital (HUCA).
Hundreds of people received the Freedom Flotilla ship in the Basque Country
He plans to stay in the Basque Country until Tuesday, the 8th, when he will leave for Vigo and then continue to other areas of the Mediterranean. During the ship's stay in Bilbao, various events have been organised, including conferences, performances, a Palestinian fair and a press conference with activists from the flotilla.
A 25-year-old woman has been arrested in Elciego on charges of running over her partner
He has been charged with attempted murder in the area of domestic violence. The incident took place around 7.30 a.m. on Saturday morning. The detainee has been transferred to police stations and, once the proceedings have been completed, will be brought before the court.
A 20-year-old boy died on Lekeitio's Geese Day after falling off a fence; the celebration was suspended
The young man, who was in the harbor following the test of geese, has fallen from a height of about two metres. Thousands of people have gathered in Lekeitio today and the event was developing normally until the accident.
Nearly 4,000 people have gathered at the Sagardo Eguna in Donostia
They have the opportunity to taste cider from 32 cider shops in Gipuzkoa. They have threatened the day with music from trikitilaris and bertsolaris. One of the most emotional moments has been the act of tribute to Jabier Ansorena and Marian Matas.
September 5th has been declared Local Democratic Memory Day in Irun
The Irun City Council has declared 5 September as Local Democratic Memory Day, with the support of all the political groups of the City Council, which today commemorated all the Iranians who suffered a military coup, war and dictatorship.
The Ertzaintza arrested a man in Urduliz accused of throwing bottles at three people
The attack took place at around 6.20 p.m. near the metro station, where a group of some 200 people had gathered in the vicinity, and the detainee had previously been arrested for similar events.
Three people have been arrested in Gernika on charges of forcing a 14-year-old pregnant girl to marry
An investigation is also under way into a 17-year-old, the alleged father of the child, who has not been located.
Tests on the Mole's underground passage trains begin next week
The infrastructure will be available by Christmas, according to the forecasts of the Basque Government.
The alleged perpetrator of Barakaldo's murder is still at the police station awaiting testimony before the judge
The Ertzaintza continues to investigate, and early hypotheses suggest that "sentimental" may be the cause of the incident.