Project description

The Bizkaia Provincial Council will receive support from the European Regional Development Fund for its project to extend cycle paths through co-financing from the Basque Country ERDF Programme 2021-2027 under Specific Objective 2.8. Promote sustainable multimodal urban mobility.

Bizkaia is committed to sustainable mobility and, as part of this, in 2023 the new Bizkaia Sectoral Territorial Plan for Cycle Paths 2023-2035 was approved, which provides for the construction of more than 200 kilometres of new cycle paths.

The development of cycling infrastructure and the promotion of cycling as a means of transport is part of the necessary change in the territory’s transport, mobility and planning policies. The Plan aims for the bicycle to become a “regular alternative” in everyday journeys.

The Plan also includes the development of a network to improve cycling accessibility throughout the territory, with a “stronger and closer” connection between rural areas and urban centres. The cycle paths will extend over 265.5 kilometres across seven major routes: Nerbioi-Ibaizabal-Arratia-Durangaldea, Txorierri-Mungialdea, Eskuinaldea-Uribe Kosta, Ezkerralde-Meatzaldea-Enkarterri, Urdaibai, Artibai and Bilbao. This represents a doubling of the 162 kilometres that existed up to 2023. When designing them, consideration has been given to facilitating connections between municipal roads and bringing users closer to the public transport network and to work, study and leisure centres. Other measures that facilitate the use of bicycles will also be implemented, such as safe parking for them or shared use systems. One third of the network will be managed by the Provincial Council, with the remaining sections managed by municipal councils.

Budgets

• Investment of 28 million euros
• Co-financing by the European Regional Development Fund of 11 million euros