The European Cyclists' Federation welcomes ConBici to the ECF family. ConBici, with over 4,000 members and 57 cycling organisations, is the face and voice of millions of cyclists in Spain.

Map of ConBici´s local groups

In a country that faces big challenges in terms of mobility, job creation, environment and social cohesion, cycling is key not only in improving the quality of life in Spanish cities but also in creating thousands of jobs: improving local economies and boosting the potential of sustainable tourism. Spain is one of the countries in Europe with a lowest rate of bicycle use. However, some cities in Spain are leaders in reintroducing the bike as a means of transportation.

There is lot of work to be done in Spain but also enormous potential. ConBici is working on a National Cycling Plan and ECF together with the Cycling Industry Club will support this advocacy action. "Currently, Spain brings in €1.6 billion annually from cycle tourism when it should rival France’s €7.5 billion. This growth will not just be foreign tourists, there is a large domestic market for leisure and urban cycling that will help bike sales too," said Kevin Mayne, Development Director at ECF .

ConBici in the Spanish Parliament commission to discuss mandatory helmet for cyclists

ConBici has been working for over 20 years  to improve cycling in Spain. With advocacy actions like the creation of a cycling and road safety commission in the Spanish Parliament, the production of Guidelines for a National Cycling Plan, amongst many other activities such as bike to school, bike and train initiatives, the Spanish cycling organisation is a example of how a union of cyclists from many different locations working together can have a real impact on cycling conditions nationally.

ConBici is also member of the "mesa de la bicicleta" the Spanish cycling roundtable together with professional cyclists, the industry, the royal cycling organisation and others cycling organisations. The collaboration between ConBici and the ECF has a long history. In the last months the two organisations have worked together trying to improve the new Spanish road code, with significant success.  Everything suggessts that this is the beginning of a closer collaboration.

Public action to promote intermodality bike-train

ConBici decided in their last assembly that being part of ECF is "strategic" in order to grow as an organisation and to have a voice at European level. The European Cyclists' Federation welcomes ConBici back to the European train that with 500,000 members from 40 countries on board will drive the voice of cyclists forward towards the European Institutions.

About the Author

Jesús Freire Valderrama is Project Assistant at the ECF. He enjoys riding long distance cycle routes -EuroVelo routes of course- but to the supermarket as well. You can follow him on Twitter in Spanish and in English.

 "More people cycling, better public spaces¨