Cycling in the center of Madrid

Spain’s cities are becoming increasingly bike-friendly, but the capital of Madrid is still lagging behind. There is a lot of talk about expanding bike infrastructure, but developments are slow. Biking in Madrid is possible, but you have to be a seasoned cyclist.

Madrid is a city made for cars with wide avenidas with four to six lanes. Bikes are formally considered vehicles and therefore can ride anywhere, to the dismay of many taxi and bus drivers who find cyclists particularly annoying. The main roads are busy and as a cyclist, you feel quite exposed to the traffic around you; nevertheless, only a small number of serious bike accidents actually occur.

Cyclists are not often seen on the road, but the development of bike infrastructure is noticeably underway. The arrival of a system of electric loan bikes has done a lot of good. Madrilenians are now coming around to the idea of cycling as a way to get around the city. The bikes are available to everyone, including visitors, but we didn’t think they looked that great. Renting a bike is safer, more convenient, and inexpensive. You also see cycling meal deliverers with large boxes on their backs making their way through traffic.

Where to bike?

The large avenidas often have a lane where cars cannot go more than 30 km per hour, making it a safer choice for cyclists. On weekdays it may be better to seek out the quiet streets in the center. The avenidas are considerably quieter during the weekend, making them more accessible for cyclists. The large Paseo del Prado is even closed off to car traffic on Sundays. There are also several bike lanes in the city, although sometimes these suddenly end or do not connect.

Why cycling in Madrid is still worthwhile

Okay, so you may have to be quite an experienced biker and stay alert at all times, but it is still nice to ride your bike through Madrid. There are a few companies that offer organized tours and know the most beautiful places and quieter streets. They will, of course, take you to the beautiful Retiro Park (you can cycle on the paved paths) and to the new bike path along the Manzanares River. Bear in mind that it is a climb back to the city from the river. A longer route also includes the Caza de Campo park where you as a cyclist have a lot of space. A bike tour gives you a good idea of the center of Madrid, which is actually quite compact and therefore highly accessible by bike.