Bicing, recognised as a benchmark model for public bike sharing in Spain and internationally

The availability of bicycles and the integration of the service into the urban fabric are the main factors behind Bicing’s success, according to a study by mobility consultancy Impulso 

This leadership position was achieved thanks to the 2025 fleet expansion, which increased the number of bicycles to 8,000, more than 60% of which are electric

With 4.7 bicycles per 1,000 inhabitants, Barcelona ranks as the fourth most successful bicycle system in the world.

Barcelona has once again consolidated its bike-sharing service, Bicing, as one of the most prominent urban systems in the world. According to the analysis ‘Guide to best practices for the implementation of public bicycle systems’ by consultancy firm Impulso, Barcelona’s model is the leading public bike-sharing system in Spain. With an availability of 4.7 bicycles per 1,000 residents, it also ranks as the fourth most successful bike-sharing system worldwide, surpassed only by major metropolises such as Paris, New York and Mexico City.

For the First Deputy Mayor and Chair of BSM, Laia Bonet, ‘this positioning demonstrates the scale of the service and its integration as a key element of local, sustainable urban mobility. Specifically, appearing among the world’s most outstanding systems and leading the national ranking is not a statistical anecdote – it reflects a public mobility model that is active, appropriately scaled and used by citizens in their everyday lives’. 

A network that has grown in line with the city

The public bike-sharing service, managed by BSM, has reinforced its leadership as a benchmark model following a year marked by major milestones in 2025. The expansion carried out last July increased the fleet to 8,000 bicycles, 60% of which are electric.

This growth was accompanied by the addition of 30 new stations, bringing the total number of stations across Barcelona to 557. Many of these new stations were installed in neighbourhoods with less cycling infrastructure, such as mountainous areas or suburban districts. As a result, the network has not only grown in size but has also become more equitable and accessible for residents, with a focus on providing all ten districts with a public, environmentally friendly transport option suited to everyday travel.

More use, more sustainability

Bicing’s evolution goes beyond fleet size or the number of stations. Since the model was reconfigured in 2019, the service has recorded over 100 million journeys, making it a European leader in terms of usage intensity. 

In 2025, it set a new record for both usage and subscriptions, with 166,457 subscribers and 19,535,463 journeys logged – figures that reflect how shared bicycles have become firmly embedded in the city’s daily mobility routines.
A large share of these journeys are made using electric bicycles, which now account for 80% of total trips. The growing use of these pedal-assisted bikes has extended the system’s typical range of use, enabling longer and more comfortable journeys, even in hilly areas or for users with different physical capabilities.

Driving sustainable urban mobility

Bicing has had a significant impact on mobility in Barcelona. In addition to reducing reliance on private vehicles, regular use of public bicycles helps improve air quality, lower polluting emissions and promote active lifestyles among the population.

The system’s success has drawn attention from other municipalities and urban mobility experts, who see Barcelona’s model as an example of how to structure and manage bike-sharing systems efficiently – in coordination with public transport and tailored to a city’s real needs.