Barcelona green axes cut accidents by 74% but increase pedestrian hits

New data shows Barcelona's car-free green corridors have dramatically reduced vehicle accidents, but pedestrian incidents have risen in unexpected ways.

Owen H 18 March 2026 · 1 min read

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Barcelona green axes cut accidents by 74% but increase pedestrian hits

Barcelona's network of 'eixos verds' (green axes) — car-restricted streets converted into tree-lined pedestrian corridors — has produced dramatic safety improvements, with vehicle-related accidents dropping by 74% on transformed streets.

However, new data from the city's mobility department reveals a more nuanced picture. While car accidents have plummeted, pedestrian-cyclist collisions have increased by 12% on green axis streets, and e-scooter incidents have risen by 23%.

The speed factor

Researchers at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya attribute the increase to a combination of higher pedestrian volumes, faster cycling speeds on wider lanes, and the growing number of e-scooter users who treat the green axes as dedicated cycling infrastructure.

The city is now considering speed limits for cyclists and e-scooter riders on green axis streets, along with clearer lane markings to separate pedestrian and cycling zones.

#Environment #Transport

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Owen H

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Barcelona green axes cut accidents by 74% but increase pedestrian hits

The speed factor

Owen H

The Barcelona Briefing