The effectiveness of the measures introduced in response to heat waves is reflected in the 4% increase in use compared with last summer
This summer, someone has set off on an electric bike every two seconds in Barcelona
Heat-related incidents involving electric bikes have fallen by 82% since the new measures were introduced
A record summer for Bicing use
This summer, Bicing has consolidated its position as one of the most popular ways to get around Barcelona. In July and August, the average number of daily uses was 19% higher than the figure for January, February and March this year, demonstrating that the service remains in heavy use during the summer months.
This high level of use is particularly evident at the busiest stations and during peak travel times. This summer, at Barcelona’s 100 busiest stations, a bike has been unlocked and used every four minutes at peak times. Across the city, the service has even recorded 4,500 uses in a single hour.
This intensive use is not limited to the summer. During the first eight months of 2026, Bicing recorded 13.5 million uses, 9% more than the 12.4 million recorded during the same period last year.
Heat-related measures reduce incidents by 82%
The episodes of extreme heat at the beginning of the summer had a particular impact on the charging of electric bikes. When temperatures are very high, battery protection systems limit charging to ensure that the batteries continue to function correctly.
In response, Bicing activated a specific action plan to reduce the impact of the hot weather and keep as many electric bikes available as possible. The main measures taken were as follows:
- Adaptation of battery systems to make sure bikes remain available during episodes of extreme heat.
- Adjustments to stations to optimise the charging system when temperatures are high.
- Increased on-street maintenance to make the bikes available again as quickly as possible.
- Additional workshop resources to speed up repairs and return bikes to the fleet sooner.
- Increased redistribution of bikes in areas with the highest demand.
The impact of these measures is reflected in the number of incidents involving electric bikes during periods of high temperatures, which has fallen by 82% since the action plan was implemented.
The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the measures taken and reinforce Bicing’s commitment to continually improving and adapting the service to the increasingly challenging effects of climate change on infrastructures and operations. Specifically, the service closed out July and August with positive results, averaging 55,408 daily uses, 4.3% more than the 53,142 uses recorded during the same period in 2025.
‘This summer, we have rolled out a specific action plan to guarantee maximum availability of electric bikes during periods of extreme heat. We have adapted battery systems, adjusted station charging systems, strengthened maintenance operations and stepped up bike redistribution to the stations where demand is highest. Thanks to these measures, heat-related incidents involving electric bikes have fallen by 82%’, explains Francesc Delgado, director of New Mobility at BSM. ‘During July and August, Bicing recorded a 19% increase in daily uses compared with the winter months and a 4% increase compared with last summer. These figures demonstrate that Bicing has become one of the most popular ways to get around Barcelona’, he adds.
The growing popularity of electric bikes
Electric bikes are at the heart of this popularity. This summer, someone has set off on an electric bike every two seconds in Barcelona.
Electric bikes account for eight out of every ten Bicing journeys and have been used an average of ten times a day, even during periods of intense heat. These figures show that electric bikes have become the preferred option for getting around Barcelona – a hilly city – as they make journeys easier and allow users to travel anywhere in the city comfortably.
This strong performance comes amid sustained growth for Bicing. By the end of 2026, Bicing expects to reach 20 million journeys a year, 66% more than in 2019, when the current contract began. This represents 8 million additional journeys. Over the same period, the number of users has increased from 113,800 to more than 170,000 – an increase of 49.4% that consolidates Bicing’s position as an essential service in Barcelona’s transition towards more sustainable mobility.
