The Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB) has delivered 111 bicycles to 41 companies across the region in a significant push to encourage sustainable commuting. The initiative, part of the well-established ‘Biciempresa’ programme, provides businesses with a free six-month loan of bikes for their employees, aiming to embed cycling into the daily work routine.

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A Growing Initiative

Now in its fifth edition, the ‘Biciempresa’ scheme, which began in 2017, has gained considerable momentum. For the first time ever, the programme’s €50,000 budget is fully exhausted, indicating a surge in corporate interest in green transport solutions, according to reports from El Periódico. Furthermore, the scheme promotes cycling not only for daily commutes but also for journeys made during the working day. Since its launch, the programme has provided nearly 350 bicycles to over 110 different companies, demonstrating a sustained effort to promote healthier and more environmentally friendly transport habits in the professional sphere.

New Wheels and New Rules

This latest round introduces several notable enhancements based on user feedback. A key addition is a ‘long tail’ family bicycle, an electric model designed to carry up to two children on the back. This innovation addresses a practical barrier for many working parents, allowing them to combine school runs with their own commute. Crucially, eight of these family-friendly models are now in use. Another significant change is the new option for employees to purchase their loaned bicycle at the end of the six-month period. This popular request allows those who have successfully integrated cycling into their lives to continue doing so with a familiar bike. The fleet of 111 bicycles is diverse, catering to different needs. It includes 51 electric city bikes, 47 folding city bikes, five mechanical folding bikes, and the eight new ‘long tail’ family models, as detailed by 20 Minutos.

A Commitment to Sustainable Mobility

Officials marked the handover on Thursday, with Carlos Cordón, the AMB‘s Vice President of Mobility, highlighting the programme’s success. He stated:

“The Biciempresa programme has been consolidated as a tool to promote more sustainable, healthy, and efficient mobility in the metropolitan work environment. We celebrate the reception it has had this year among the business community.”

Reflecting the high demand, Cordón announced plans for another call for applications before the summer. He explained:

“We plan to launch a new call… to be able to continue promoting the use of the bicycle for going to work, so that more companies and more workers can join.”

This initiative was reported by Metrópoli Abierta.

Pedalling Towards a Greener Metropolis

The initiative impacts the extensive Barcelona Metropolitan Area, a sprawling urban region home to over 3.2 million people. The 41 participating companies are located in 16 different municipalities, including Barcelona city (10 companies), Sant Feliu de Llobregat (6), Cornellà de Llobregat (4), and Sant Adrià de Besòs (2).

This programme represents a practical step in a broader strategy to tackle urban pollution and congestion, a key challenge highlighted by recent studies on sustainable mobility in Barcelona. By empowering businesses to offer a tangible alternative to car travel, the AMB is fostering a bottom-up approach to decarbonisation across the territory stretching from the Llobregat River Delta to the banks of the Besòs.