How Green and Bicycle Friendly is Gasteiz Really?
25/03/21 / Keyword: bicycle
ECP coach John gives his strong opinion about the proposed changes by Vitoria-Gasteiz council to the rules regarding the circulation of bicycles in the city.
Click HERE to download the Weekly English Practice as a PDF.
Useful vocabulary
enhanced: increased and improved quality
jeopardy: danger of loss, harm or failure
bike racks: a place to to park bikes. Usually metal
benches: a long seat for a few people, usually found outdoors
signposting: a way of giving information, especially on roads
threats: a statement of intent to cause damage or harm
foster: to encourage or promote the development of something
criss-cross: a pattern of intersecting lines
Listen to the audio and read the text (refresh the page if it’s not visible).
ECP coach John gives his strong opinion about the proposed changes by Vitoria-Gasteiz council to the rules regarding the circulation of bicycles in the city.
Gasteiz has long had a well-deserved reputation as a bike-friendly city which has enhanced its green credentials. However, the PNV-led local council has just announced a series of possible measures, which, in my opinion, and that of many other cyclists, will, if implemented, put that hard-earned green reputation in serious jeopardy.
The proposals are:
1) Circulation by bike only on cycle paths or roadways.
2) It will be forbidden to ride in pedestrian areas – meaning the pavement – except for children under 15 years of age. However, children under 12 years of age may ride on the pavement with an adult.
3) Bicycles will only be permitted to park on bike racks and street furniture, but NOT benches or trees.
The councillor in charge of (im)mobility was quoted in El Correo as saying that, “Vitoria has been permissive with the bicycle”!
But what do they actually mean by that? For many years, Vitoria has had clear and concise regulations on cycling, and if anyone has had to enforce them it is the Council, which means that this “permissiveness” could only be due to laziness or a failure to do things properly on the council’s part.
From a cycling point of view, it is true there is a lot of “permissiveness” in terms of cars parking in double lines in cycle lanes. The invasion of cycle lanes by runners and pedestrians. No real speed control in 30 km/h zones by traffic police. A lack of proper signposting at cycle priority crossings. I could go on…
Already, the council are quoting figures of how much cyclists will be fined if they do not obey the proposed new rules. Yet again, politicians are resorting to threats and sanctions, rather than trying to convince the public and look for consensus. I propose a completely different approach.
As a cyclist, I do admit that some of us on two wheels do not always follow the rules and can be an irritation to pedestrians, but let’s be honest, it’s fast cars that kill pedestrians and cyclists. The statistics show that very few pedestrians are even slightly injured by cyclists riding on pavements.
It is not helpful to create false divisions between pedestrians and cyclists. All cyclists are pedestrians too and many are also car drivers. We need to continue the pedestrian and bike-friendly policy in Gasteiz and foster a more cooperative and mutually respectful atmosphere between us all.
In neighbourhoods like Salburua, where the pavements are more than 3 metres wide, I propose to allow cyclists to ride responsibly on the pavements until traffic is slowed to 30 km/h on the roads, and clearly marked and safe cycle paths are allocated.
Cyclists and scooter riders also need to show respect and learn the rules. Riding with no hands or texting while riding is NOT allowed. They also need to know they have no right to speed across zebra crossings, which is extremely dangerous. They should dismount and push their bike or scooter across the road.
Car drivers must be clear that on elevated crossings with the yellow criss-cross lines, they have to give way.
It would be a shame if the city’s green credentials were lost by implementing these proposals as they stand. We all need to talk more and impose less, but, most of all, educate ourselves about the existing rules and respect them and each other.
Written by ECP Coach John Hird
Let’s chat about using a bicycle in Gasteiz!
- What are the council’s new mobility proposals?
- Does John agree or disagree with the proposals?
- Why does John say the quoted councillor is in charge of “(im)mobility”?
- Are you mostly a pedestrian, cyclist or car driver?
- Do the proposals make Gasteiz less green?
- If you were council leader, what would you do?
- What do you think about the quotes? (see page 2)
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