Barcelona recorded 921 reported bicycle thefts in 2024, about 2.5 a day, according to a new study by the Bicicleta Club de Catalunya (BACC) and the CityLab research team at the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA-UAB).
The report says the thefts are affecting how people move around the city, with one in five victims choosing not to replace their stolen bike. Marta Casar, a BACC member, said the group hears cases every week from people whose bikes have been stolen, and that this affects mobility decisions.
The study also says the official figure is only part of the picture. Clementine Surad, coordinator of the Coordination Space Against Bicycle Theft, said many thefts are not reported or recorded because there is not enough information. Sergeant Antonio Gallego from the Guàrdia Urbana's Central Proximity Office said formal complaints are often difficult if owners do not have a photo or frame number for the bike.
Most of the reported thefts, 59%, happened on public roads. Another 20% took place in car parks, and the remaining 20% were inside buildings. The report says Barcelona has 38,904 inverted U-rack spaces for bicycles, but 60% to 70% of them are concentrated in central districts, leaving other parts of the city less well served.
The study calls for more secure parking, including systems such as the BiciBox enclosed spaces used by the Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB). Dani Tizón, a board member of the Association of Spanish Bicycle Brands, said people should not have to change how they travel because they are unsure where they can park. Jordi Jové, a sustainable mobility technician for the AMB, said the system is well regarded at metropolitan level and should also be possible in Barcelona city.
It also recommends simpler reporting, annual reports, a unified bicycle registry, pilot GPS tracking projects, and better links with resale platforms. The Coordination Space Against Bicycle Theft, which started in 2025 and brings together the Ajuntament de Barcelona, the Generalitat, the Mossos d'Esquadra, the Guàrdia Urbana and cycling groups, is meant to help set out practical measures. Read the original report from Ara, and see more local coverage in our Community and Sport sections.
