The Barcelona Bicibús: A Fun and Safe Mode of Transport for School Children
The Barcelona Bicibús is no ordinary bus. It has hundreds of wheels, dozens of drivers, and no passengers. Instead, it offers a unique and creative way for school children to travel to school. Every weekday at 8.30am, the bus leaves from outside the Sant Antoni market in Barcelona’s Eixample district.
On a cool September morning, about 60 parents and children aged three to 11 gather in Plaça Conxita Pérez for the school run. The atmosphere is festive, with music playing and an air of excitement. The children treat the journey as an adventure rather than a chore.
The Barcelona Bicibús navigating through the heavy traffic in Eixample. Photograph: Paola de Grenet/The Guardian
According to Genís Domínguez, one of the organizers, the Barcelona Bicibús has grown in popularity over the last two years. In the 1990s, the concept originated and it was introduced to the Catalan town of Vic three years ago. However, the idea had to be adapted to cater to the unique challenges of the Eixample neighborhood in Barcelona.
The Eixample district, meaning “the extension,” was designed with wide streets to provide breathing space for citizens. However, today these streets are congested with traffic. Unlike the narrow streets and cycle lanes in Vic, the Barcelona Bicibús in Eixample occupies the entire road, treating it as a single vehicle, to ensure the safety of the children and adults involved.
The Barcelona Bicibús operates with a police patrol car at the rear, warding off any impatient motorists. Photograph: Paola de Grenet/The Guardian
With adults on each flank and a police patrol car at the rear, the Barcelona Bicibús ensures a safe journey for the children. At each crossing, the adult riders block the traffic to allow the group to cross and to prevent anyone from jumping the lights. The entire operation is run by parents via a WhatsApp group and surprisingly, conflict with motorists is minimal.
For the children, the Barcelona Bicibús is a highlight of their day. They enjoy chatting with their friends, listening to music, and meeting new people. The route from Sant Antoni is particularly popular, as the children have to navigate several busy streets to reach their schools. Few parents in Barcelona drive their children to school, and around 15,000 bicibús journeys were made during the previous school year.
The Barcelona Bicibús is attracting attention and interest from around the world. Visitors and inquiries have come from France, Italy, the UK, and Germany. The model is easy to replicate in different locations, making it a promising solution for schools and parents worldwide.
Despite the benefits, some challenges remain, such as limited storage space for bicycles at city schools. The Barcelona Bicibús network has requested the city council to provide secure bicycle parking. They have also presented proposals to make the roads safer for children, including more cycle lanes, reduced speed limits, and additional measures to protect young cyclists.
Joining the Barcelona Bicibús not only provides a safe and healthy journey to school but also creates a sense of community and integration. It allows children from different schools to get to know each other, fostering a sense of belonging in the neighborhood. The project’s impact can be monitored and evaluated through the bicibús.eu or bicibus.cat websites.
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