CARAVEL Final Project Report EN - CIVITAS

Some new
developments of the
bicycle lane, using
soft measures to
separate the bicycle
and walking areas.
of the local community in the city
and the region. The event was
widely reported in the regional
and even the national press, and
echoed in various magazines and
television programmes covering
this unique project in Burgos to
“loan” bicycles to the public.
The bike-loan system started
with four installations around
the city, each holding 15 bicycles
and operating with software
and equipment. Between 2006
and 2008, the system has
registered over 3,100 members
and has loaned out over 20,000
bikes. Thanks to its widespread
success, the system has been
extended considerably. Today,
the public have access to sixteen
bike-loan pick-up points, one for
each area or neighbourhood in
the City of Burgos. The system
also offers 20 electric bicycles for
longer trips mainly centred on
travel to the industrial zones.
The citizens can use the service
for a maximum of two hours
(long enough to travel from any
one point in the city to another).
Tourists are allowed to use the
bike for three hours to travel in
a sustainable way around the city
and admire it.
The organisation in charge
of maintaining the bicycles
(repainting them if necessary,
repairing wheels, brakes…) as
well as putting them out and
redistributing them during the
day is a social organisation (Fundación
Lesmes, also belonging to
the city municipality) that is made
up of socially excluded groups
and people with disabilities.
2 nd step: promoting
BiCiBUR
A large-scale marketing campaign
was launched with gifts
for the first subscribers BiCiBUR.
Detailed leaflets explained the
system. In addition, a map of the
city bike lanes was prepared to
provide information on the safest
routes for cyclists. The smart
cards were given to citizens at
a symbolic price of € 3 at three
points around the city (the City
Council, the ‘Río Vena’ Civic
Centre and the public library,
Gonzalo de Berceo). In addition
to the 3,100 citizen members,
some 200 tourists have also
benefited from the system.
The idea of promoting bicycle
use among commuters is partly
explained by the fact that cycles
have traditionally been used in
Burgos at the weekends and
for sport. The city promoted
everyday bicycle use by the
public though posters showing
a man riding to work, dressed
in a suit and tie, riding a bike
in the middle of the city as if it
were the most normal activity in
the world, and others depicting
bicycle users and pedestrians
respectfully sharing public spaces.
3 rd step: increasing
the use of bicycles
During recent years the city has
made tremendous efforts to promote
the bicycle as an alternative
means of transport. 230 new
bike racks have been installed
and bicycle use has been encouraged
and marketed as a normal
means of transport (i.e. not only
for the weekend). The mutual
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