"Bilbaobizi" - a brilliant, sustainable service. New technologies for everyone.

LAS Group
Dec 1, 2018
4 min read

Updated: Dec 13, 2018

By Eva Flandermeier in Bilbao

(Dec, 01, 2018)

The councilor of Bilbao provides a special service. People can rent bicycles in the city of the basque country. The project is called "Bilbaobizi". It was founded in the course of the local Agenda 21, to promote the sustainable mobility issues of the city. The individual loan service of bicycles has got the purpose to promote the idea of an healthy, sustainable, and non-polluting transport in the city. One goal is to create an environment friendly mobility as an alternative to the usage of cars.

11 Sustainable cities and communities:

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

Text and photo Courtesy of United Nations (un.org).

Bilbao has set new standards and renewed the old "Bilbon bizi". The councilor of mobility provides more bikes, fitted with superior technology. "The main attraction is that the units will be of assisted pedaling.", according to a spokeswoman for Bilbaobizi (Estibaliz Gorrotxaizeg, 34, secretary of "Bilbaobizi"). An engine will help the cyclists legs to move smoothly. They have an autonomy of about 50 kilometers and the recharge, which can be done at the loan points, will last a maximum of 90 minutes. The surrounding hills and mountains of the city aren't obstacles anymore. The Bicycles are fitted with electric drive and GPS Systems. In addition to that, the mobile fleet will be increased. At the end of this year 300 bicycles will be available, and in January 2019 150 more will be added.

The service cost only 20 € per year for registered voters, and 25 € for residents of other municipalities. The registration can be done easily with the new "Bilbaobizi" App, which is also required to unlock and lock the bikes for the users. "The implemented inventions should attract more young people and women.", added the spokeswoman. 200 bikes are available, and until now 12.906 people are registered in "Bilbaobizi". The bike stations are spread across the city center, easy to reach for everybody close to the city core. The cityscape is shaped by the red and white vehicles, strung in their racks, waiting to be used by passing people. The bicycles are available, everyday, whenever they are needed from 6am to 10.30pm.

How do I get access?

Four steps to your bicylce adventure in Bilbao:

Get the "Bilboabizi" App. Use your smartphone to download the App. Do the registration and choose a payment method.
Scan QR Code at any Bilbaobizi station. Press 'RENT' on the display. Follow the instructions and pull the bike out of the dock.
Park the bike by pressing down the frame lock lever. A beep will confirm that the bike is locked. To continue the ride, press ‘Open Lock‘ on the app to reopen the frame lock. (The rental continues in the park mode.)
Return the bike at an Bilbaobizi station and push it into a dock. Lock it. A beep will confirm the successful return and end of your rental. App rental will be ended automatically.

App "Bilbaobizi" impressions. Photo by Eva Flandermeier.

The idea of supply the members of the city with a loan service of bicycles, which is well located, convenient, and fair is nearly as great as the invention of the bicycle itself. Everyone is free to access a service that is the embodiment of foresighted society: healthful, environmentally friendly, and sustainable. Everyone? Yes, Everyone. The "Bilbaobizi" bicycles are no longer reserved for the locals. Settled people from the basque country or Spain, as well as people from abroad could enter the service easily. During these days the "Bilbaobizi" App is frequently not available. To many request for registrations, what actually is a sign for a great provided, public service. The service is very popular.

ree — A map of "Bilbaobizi" stations. Photo Courtesy of Bilbaobizi.

What has changed? Together with the new technology comes a reinvented service system. Until this November the provided information and the associated App from the Bicycle Center were only available in Basque and Spanish. Not in English, not in German, neither in French nor in Portuguese. Well educated foreigner were able to manage this linguistic problem, but still, people from abroad were at a disadvantage. Now, all informations, as well as the App are also provide in English. Previous there was another hurdle to take for people, who wanted to attend the loan service for bicycles. The payment was only possible with a Credit Card from a Spanish or local Bank Account. Tourists, Transients or guest students from abroad were not well taken in account. That has changed, common international Credit Cards are accepted. Still, it is an annual rent. But Nevertheless, the fees are very low.

Bilbaobizi bicycles at theater Arriaga. Photo by Eva Flandermeier.

The foresighted service is provided form a basque city that faces the future. The community is moving towards a grand transition to be a sustainable town, to create a liveable place. The responsible included one of the main aspects of Sustainability, written in the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nation: to unify, no one is excluded, nor leaved behind. From now on, everyone have access to this brilliant and sustainable service in Bilbao.