In recent years, Bilbao has quietly built a cycling network shaped by lessons from the Dutch: calmed where it can be, protected where it must—always comfortable and connected. The result? You can now ride across the city on infrastructure for everyone—not just the fit and brave.

I grew up in Bilbao. In my experience, the bike network felt more recreational than practical for daily mobility, though I haven’t used it much since the pandemic so things may have evolved. One recurring frustration: joggers regularly using the bike lanes, even alongside wide promenades like Campo de Volantín. It reinforced the idea that these lanes were for leisure or fitness, not for getting from A to B. I haven’t really seen this pattern outside the Basque Country. (pictured a bike lane in San Sebastián)

@LizClements What a marvellous transformation. I was based there for work in the early 2000s when the first paths went in. Cycling up the sides of the valley were quite a challenge.

You can, but they wont. Cyclists worldwide will do detours to use the streets that *dont* have cycling lanes.

@YoeriAlbrecht We moved here since May 25 from the Netherlands and still see a lot of challenges for improvement. There are many lanes that stop abruptly. In NL we used the bicycle every day. Bilbao could do more to make itself a bicycle friendly city. It still has a long way to go.

Note that the video avoids showing intersections. Two-way bike lanes are the worst, because one of those lanes enters intersections from the side that motorists aren't looking at.

Far too narrow for safe cycling.

@jgrebski The bike lanes are far too narrow.

Spent a month there, they've done such a good job. Only drawback is the color of the lanes! In Sevilla they've painted them green which blends so much nicer with all the grass + trees.

From America, I’m blown away by the infrastructure is almost everywhere else. Incredible

This is exactly the vision Canada needs. Dutch-style protected networks make cycling accessible to all ages. We're still debating while others are building.

I ride my bike daily and sorry to say that it feels more designed for tourists than for real commuting. They’re neither practical nor safe, and it’s seems they’ve been designed by people who don’t actually ride a bike. Not even mention this roundabout

@kcisc I was born and raised in Bilbao and my youngest niece almost got hit by a biker not wanting to stop + not every person uses the bike lane, cyclists use the road which is dangerous. Not there any more but where i live in now they are doing smth similar but in a better way.

I hate bicyclists in cities they’re dangerous and arrogant, I’d just ban them entirely

Qué gusto ese carril bici. Mientras tanto en Barcelona, localidades como Esplugues tienen carriles bici impracticables. *Véase árbol en medio del carril.

well, i disagree. The cycling has never been a real mobility option for the city hall, it has always been recreational and votes driven decision. Besides, the public rental bike system has been dismantled for years, making it fully inefficient and very expensive.

It’s tiny for a two way system

@YoeriAlbrecht A matter of time before they’re flooded with bakfietsen.

@HerrCaleun Well done, Bilbao!

Cheers love to see cities do this - Now please revisit Sydney and get them fired up .. the spark is fading.

The space is being taken away from pedestrians.

Have you been to Amsterdam ? Too many cyclists are complete maniacs who ignore pedestrians. Hope you can avoid that.

Quietly?! Trust me, there’s nothing the basques do quietly. Faark, do they like to brag🤣

Bravo

I like how they painted it red. That way pedestrians are more aware of it.

I wish my city, Kalamazoo, would do that. I would much rather ride a bike than drive, but at age 73 feel too unsafe to do so.

@sadakiyo99 You say this and immediately show a video of an unprotected bike lane.

I love your videos but I've never seen one of half a dozen guys cycling together on road bikes doing 20mph in a bike lane. How do these countries build infrastructure that works for both casual and road cyclists or is it just a British thing and if so how would you address it?

@AlTi5 je pense que tu es au courant mais si jamais…

one important good thing I see here, is that, unlike some other cities, you see bike lanes done separate & protected from pedestrian infrastructure, not eating into it... This is a very important consideration for those who do not care for cycling but still want a walkable city.

Nice! Yet bike lane is too narrow for the next bike generation. (Fast, big, bikes)

Great! A bit narrow those lanes. They can do better.

The system in Barcelona is fantastic, and very widely used. Fantastic!

Bilbao is the single best-run city of its size in the world and I'll die on that hill.

Oh great, more fucking bicycling nerds to ruin it for the rest of us