[Ep. 1018] Seville built a complete Dutch style protected cycling network of 80km from scratch in under two years (2006/2007). It has grown to over 164km since. Find out how well “if you build them, they will come” worked out for this Spanish city! More information in the blog post: https://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/?p=25333
This is Seville, the capital of Andalusia in Spain, with a relatively new but very healthy cycling climate. It is always a good sign to see people of all ages cycling, on a variety of bicycles, with a good share of women.
People in Seville do not feel the need for high vis clothing, or other special gear. Even better is to see the cargo bikes too, used for deliveries and public services. Seville built a complete cycling network of almost 80 km, in under 2 years, in 2006 and 2007.
That initial network of protected cycling paths grew to 164 km by 2013. Almost 12% of the total road length of the city. The modal share for cycling increased from about 0.5% to 9% in just 4 years, which scientific research closely linked to that brand new cycling network.
An important part of Seville’s success story was the bike share system aided by the city. It gave people access to a bicycle who -for a number of reasons- did not have their own bicycles. The bikes are still clearly well used and there are also alternatives now.
Within just a few years cycling became socially accepted in this Spanish city… that had no cycling culture of significance anymore… after the bicycle had been replaced by the car in the decades after World War II. The first cycleways were built quickly. Mainly in the space of parking lanes.
Some of those paths still exist and have a bit of a temporary feel to them. Most of the bi-directional cycleways, however, were built on the level of the sidewalks. Not only did that give the users more sense of safety, but they were also less easy to revert back to road space…
If the project had failed. This does mean that some of the paths now feel a bit too busy. Siight lines are not always ideal and sometimes the cycle ways twist and wind. But the project didn’t fail, quite the contrary! Some busier cycleways were widened.
At such locations, even more road space was taken from the private car. This improved sight lines and turning radii at intersections, making cycling even more comfortable. The paths bypass bus stops and offer people plenty of space to enter a taxi Not all the cycle space is this clearly separated from pedestrian space
Which isn’t a problem in a quiet area, but can be a nuisance in the city centre. Most of the city center streets did not require cycling infrastructure. These narrow streets calm traffic in a natural way. It is only a shame that the one-way streets cannot be used in the opposite direction for cycling.
On a bicycle you can easily get lost. When a group of cyclists approaches, with all riders riding side by side, you can almost assume… [Dutch words from the group.] it is a group of Dutch people. Even though the cycleways feel a bit narrow from a Dutch perspective…
Seville did prove that you can build a completely new cycling network, leading to a successful cycling climate, even in a city without a strong cycling culture!
21 Comments
Something about the pace of the video or narration just put me in a tranquil mood. Very enjoyable video!
Unfortunately the newly elected fascists are threatening to tear all the cycling infrastructure out.
Beautiful. In my city, the only thing left to do is to get rid of all those damn hills everywhere, which Seville seems don't have much of. After riding a bicycle here, you arrive at your destination like a squeezed lemon and soaking wet of sweat.
Ah noo, we can't be the only ones that cycle side by side!
I would like to see the use that the poor Sevillians, who have paid for all this elephantine infrastructure of bike lanes, will give it this coming summer…with 42ºC in the shade at 8 in the afternoon or at the still hot 10 at night! Anyway…
Without a doubt, handbag thieves will put these bike lanes to great use for an express escape; Although I am more curious to see the use that other ordinary Sevillians, who have paid for all this immense infrastructure of bike lanes, will give it this coming summer, with 42ºC in the shade at 8 in the afternoon or at the still hot 10 at night ! Anyway…
Beautiful city!
Good to see that Sevilla is a cycling paradise in Europe. Not only have they the widest, best public transport network a city could dream of: metro, tramway, commuter train, good buses but also it has developped an amazing cycling infraestructure
The ONLY solve for traffic congestion… Multiple modes.
IT HAS GOOD WEATHER ! that's how
Every country which does not have it's own auto industry can reap huge rewards by phasing out cars.
There's so much negativity in the UK from car drivers, I hope our city planners are brave enough to create cycle routes as good as this rather than the half hearted attempts often seen.
Very well made, but many of these cycle paths are quite narrow.
You sound like a National Geographic presenter 👍
Thank you
Next, let's get everybody to start churning their own butter, like back in the good old days. After that maybe we can get rid of indoor plumbing which is another modern abomination.
thanks as always; wondering though is a bike ticket going down wrong on a one way street the same charge as a auto?? are tickets differant prices?? thanks again
You have to add also that the streets on the center are all really narrow to combat summer heat, which leads to mostly one way street with one line mostly for street parking and horrible parking experience. Which leads to scoter and bike usage.
But for example the biggest failure in the bike infrastructure of Seville would be Asuncion. A bike lane in the main pedestrian street that connects one neighbourhood with the center. As the street was made walkable, it became so crowded that bikes were forbidden to use the lane up until 10pm.
Also there are a lot of collisions between pedestrian and bikes (well, mostly e-scooters) and the bikers are usually hated by some… By nonetheless, a win.
It's easy in flat cities. Edinburgh is on a hill.
A comment about group of Dutch cyclists was really cool!
Mark, you are a true promoter of cycling, keep up the good work!
AMEN.