The public shared bicycle service will launch next Thursday in Pozuelo de Alarcón, becoming the first municipality outside the capital to integrate into the Bicimad network.
On July 17, Pozuelo de Alarcón will unveil the first Bicimad stations, the public system of shared electric bicycles from the Madrid City Council. The municipality thus becomes the first in the metropolitan area to be part of the network, which until now only operated within the capital.
Residents will be able to pick up and drop off bicycles at various stations scattered throughout the urban area, with direct connection to the Madrid network. The integration allows the same mobile application and subscription to be used in both municipalities, without the need for additional registrations.
A network that crosses the M-40
The arrival of Bicimad in Pozuelo is the result of an agreement between the local City Council and the Madrid City Council. According to municipal sources, the stations have been located in strategic points such as the Cercanías station, the shopping centre, and several high-density residential areas.
The service will offer 200 electric bicycles distributed across 15 stations, according to data provided by the Mobility Area of the Madrid City Council. Users will be able to check availability in real time from the official Bicimad app, which already includes the complete map of Pozuelo.
For the resident who commutes to Madrid every day, this connection means saving time and money. A journey from Calle de la Estación to Puerta del Sol, for example, can be completed in about 35 minutes by electric bicycle, avoiding traffic jams and costs of fuel or public transport.
Months of construction and preparations
The launch comes after several months of work to install the anchoring bases and electrical connections. The delegate for Urbanism, Environment and Mobility, Borja Carabante, announced at the end of June that the goal was to have the service operational in July, once the final technical actions were completed.
During the process, some municipal groups criticized the lack of coordination with other cycling infrastructures. In the last plenary session, the need to improve pedestrian and cycling walkways connecting neighbourhoods like La Cabaña or Monteclaro with the centre was debated, to ensure the safety of Bicimad users.
The Pozuelo City Council assures that the service will expand according to demand. For now, the rates will be the same as in Madrid: an annual subscription of 25 euros allows unlimited trips of up to 30 minutes, with an additional cost of 0.50 euros for each extra half hour.
A boost to sustainable mobility
With this addition, Pozuelo strengthens its commitment to low-emission mobility. The municipality already has bike lanes and pedestrian paths, but the direct connection with the Madrid network opens new possibilities for interurban travel.
For cycling enthusiasts, the news is almost as good as a downhill bike lane with a tailwind. Now all that remains is for the other municipalities in the metropolitan west to be encouraged to follow suit, although for now Pozuelo takes the gold medal in metropolitan integration.
Those interested can download the Bicimad app and locate the nearest stations. The service will start on Thursday, July 17 at 7:00 AM, with all stations operational from the very beginning.
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