Cycling Rules In Spain [2022 English Guide]

Spain is a popular cycling spot and one of the friendliest countries for urban biking. With the increasing use of cycles and the ever-developing infrastructure for them, it makes for a fantastic cycling destination. This guide will explain all you need to know about cycling rules and how to ride safely without putting yourself and others in danger, or getting fined.

Get A Roadworthy Bike

The first step is to get a bicycle that is safe to ride on the roads and will not put yourself or others in any danger. There are a few legal requirements that you must fulfill here.

When riding in the dark, i.e. between sunset and sunrise make sure you have one white light pointing forward and another red one pointing backward for your own safety. If you’re unsure, this is the same time that you would turn on your car lights. This also includes times when you are riding in tunnels, in the fog, in heavy rain or in other situations with limited visibility.
You must also have reflectors on your bike, and at least a rear reflector if nothing else. You should also make sure you are wearing reflective clothing when riding in the dark, in other low visibility conditions and tunnels and on interurban roads. This is so that other people on the road can see you clearly at a distance of 150 meters.
You should be riding a bike that has functional front and rear braking systems
It is also necessary to have a bell mounted on your bike

In case your bike is found to not have the required accessories, you will be fined. Not having functioning brakes or a bell will be fined 80 euros each. Other infringements like not wearing high visibility clothing or not having lights on the bicycle are likely to have much more serious consequences and will be fined 200 euros each.

What Are The Rules Of Riding A Bicycle In Spain?

Your bike is considered a vehicle for all intents and purposes so the rules that generally apply to car drivers will also apply to you. Apart from those, there are several additional requirements.

Don’t Drink And Drive

Just as with a car, you cannot legally ride if you are under the influence of alcohol. The level of alcohol must not exceed 0.5 grams per liter of blood or 0.25 mg per liter of breath during a breathalyzer test. If you are legally intoxicated, you should expect to be fined up to 500 euros and might even be arrested and charged according to the local statutes.

Know Where To Ride Your Bike

Drive on the right side of the road

In Spain, everyone drives on the right side of the road, and you must make sure you are not riding against the flow of traffic. Cyclists are also not permitted to ride on motorways or high occupancy lanes.

Ride in the cycling lane

You must ride your bike on the tracks and trails market specifically for bikes and follow a speed limit of 30 km/h. You should also be particularly careful if there are sections on the lane which are shared with other users like pedestrian crossings.

You strictly cannot ride in bus lanes, which are only to be used by public transport. If you cycle on the road, you must stay on the right or the middle lane. You can only use the left lane if there is no other option available (due to the road conditions) or you want to turn left.

Not riding on pavements or pedestrian areas

Apart from the cycling lane that is designated for bicycle riders, you should also make sure you are not riding on the sidewalks, in public parks and promenades or other areas designated for pedestrians only. The only exceptions are in areas that have no separate lanes for cyclists, where the sidewalk is exceptionally wide (more than 3 meters), not crowded (that is, you can ride straight for 5m while consistently keeping a distance of 1m from all pedestrians) or where there are no signs which explicitly prohibit cycling. Even when this is allowed, you should consider the priority of pedestrians and your speed must not exceed 10km/h.

How To Correctly Make Turns While Cycling In Spain

In order to communicate what you plan on doing with other drivers and riders on the road, you must use hand signals. While these are not mandatory, for it might not be safe in every situation to take your hands off the handlebars. However, it is strongly advised in all scenarios where there is no emergency.

There are specific signals which you must use. If you are making a stop or decreasing your speed, half of your arm should be perpendicular to your body while the other half should be pointing downward. And then wave your extended arm up and down to signal. For turning left or right, extend the arm perpendicular to the body in the intended direction.

General Cycling Conduct In Spain

Apart from the rules mentioned above, there are also several other things you should be mindful of and make sure you are following. In case you do not adhere to these, you might be fined.

No usage of mobile phones while riding

You cannot use any devices which can divert your attention while riding e.g. mobile phones or other handheld devices. You might also enjoy listening to music while riding, but cannot do this even if you are using headphones. This is because either of these things can divert your focus from the road in front of you or the vehicles around you.

Cycling with both hands on the handlebar

At all times that you are riding, both of your hands should be on the handlebars. While it might be tempting to cycle one-handedly in style, it is definitely not the safest option and should be avoided at all costs. You will also be fined if you fail to comply.

Rule for children riding on bikes

A driver older than 18 years can ride with a child behind them. However, the child must ride on an approved child seat and should not be older than 7 years of age. It is also compulsory for children to wear a helmet at all times.

Riding with a trailer

You can transport an item attached to your bike as long as it is attached securely. You must also observe weight restrictions. If the driver is above 18, they are allowed to attach a trailer for luggage and also children. You must make sure the trailer is also clearly visible on the road (it must fulfill the same conditions as the bike for visibility e.g. have reflectors).

How To Lock Your Bike In Spain

Unfortunately, bicycle theft rates are pretty high in Spain. Some estimates suggest that currently around 800,000 bikes are stolen each year in the country which are then sold on the black market for an average of 500 euros. To protect your bike, you should invest in a good quality lock to secure your bike. This can then be attached to a bike rack or pole. Make sure though that you park only in designated areas and not against trees, lamp posts and other poles otherwise you will be fined.

Get Bicycle Theft Insurance

Given the high rates of bicycle thefts, it is smart to get insurance which will protect you against theft. Moreover, if you have invested in an expensive bike with advanced features which you cannot afford to replace immediately in case of theft, it is best to have it protected by insurance. There are numerous companies offering a variety of plans which you can opt for depending on your needs. The prices for basic packages can be as low as 24 euros per year, which is not much, considering the kind of protection you will get in return.

Getting insurance on a bicycle is not a legal requirement but getting it for a motorcycle is. In any case, if you have insurance you will be protected from theft and vandalism, so it is a worthwhile expense.

Do You Need A Bicycle License In Spain?

In order to ride a bicycle in the country, you are not legally required to have a license. However, if you are riding a motorbike or a moped you will need a license. Even for motorbikes, there are various levels of licenses that you can obtain. For motorcycles with less power, mopeds, tricycles and light quadricycles you can get a license at a younger age. The Class A1 license will authorize you to drive lightweight motorcycles with a capacity up to 125cc and motor tricycles with a power output of up to 20hp. You must be at least 16 to obtain this. A Class A2 license goes a step further, allowing motorcycles with a maximum power of 47hp too. You can only obtain this license if you are 18 years of age. A Class A license is the most comprehensive and can only be obtained once you have had sufficient road experience. The minimum age limit for this is 20 years. This license will let you drive all kinds of motorcycles and mopeds on public roads.

For bicycles since you do not need a license, you will be fined a certain amount in case of infringements of rules. However, if you are driving a vehicle such as a motorcycle or moped which requires a license, then you will be fined as well as receive points on your license in case you break any traffic laws.

Is It Compulsory To Wear A Helmet When Cycling In Spain?

It is mandatory for cyclists less than 16 years of age to wear a helmet at all times whether they are in urban or non-urban areas. For everyone older than 16, wearing a helmet is mandatory if you are cycling outside urban areas, and you can get arrested if you don’t do this. There are, however, some exceptions to this rule. You are exempted from wearing a helmet if you are cycling within an urban area, riding up a steep hill or riding in extreme heat, and also if you are a professional cyclist.

Rules For Motorised Bicycles (E-Bike and Pedelec) In Spain

There are various other types of electric bikes in the market and the legal rules for each type vary. While some are treated as motorcycles, others are treated as bicycles.

And e-bike is one that is driven without any pedals, or which uses a gas handle. A pedelec on the other hand is a pedal electric cycle that has an automatic pedal support. This means that it supports the cyclist when they are pedaling, making cycling easier since the effort exerted will be reduced. It does not need to be turned on but will automatically be activated when you start pedaling. An S-pedelec is a speed pedelec and differs from the basic model in the speed that it supports.

The appearance of some of these bikes can be very similar and it might be hard to distinguish them on sight. This is because some brands offer different engine capacities in a similar looking frame. In such cases, the power and speed of the specific model will be considered.

Detailed below are the legal requirements that you must follow for each type of e-bike:

Pedelecs Up To 25km/h

Since these are assisted pedaling cycles, they have the same legal footing as bicycles
Electric motor with max 250 watts
Riders must use the cycle lanes and paths, and cannot ride on motorways
No age limit to ride these, and you also do not need a license
Can attach child seats and trailers

S-Pedelecs Up To 45km/h

Classified as mopeds
You will be required to get a license plate and insurance, and wear a helmet while riding it
Maximum output is 4000 watts
Child seats and trailers are prohibited

E-Bikes Up To 25km/h

Have the same legal footing as mopeds
They support both the pedal-assist and throttle functions
Riders must carry a vehicle certificate proving ownership (provided by the manufacturer) and are required to have a license and take out insurance
Cannot ride in cycle lanes, pedestrian areas or other areas reserved for bicycle use
There is a minimum age requirement for riding it and you will also need to wear a helmet

E-Bikes Up To 45km/h

Considered a powered small motorcycle
The rider must take out insurance, have a license to ride it and adhere to other regulations

What To Do In Case Of An Accident?

The general procedure that you should follow depends on the severity of the accident, including damages to people and vehicles and if it is necessary to involve the police.

Get your bicycle off the road, and put on your reflective jacket so you are visible to other people and vehicles on the road
If there are any injuries, call the Police Guardia Civil 112 or Policia Local 092 from your mobile or landline or use one of the SOS telephones which are located on main roads and motorways
You should also not move any injured people yourself, for fear of causing further injury
The police will make an accident report once they arrive and will make charges of driving offences. Once they have determined who is at fault for the accident, they will issue a ticket to the driver. You could even be asked to get a breathalyzer test or even a drug test to determine if you were under the influence of illicit substances
If you need to wait for the police or ambulance, do so off the road where it is safe and you do not risk being hit by other drivers
You must move the vehicles after you have taken pictures and documented the accident. Otherwise you could be fined for obstructing the flow of traffic
The drivers must exchange their details about the vehicle registration numbers, insurance companies, and their names and address.
You should also note the license plate numbers in case they are needed for any proceedings (especially if the case goes to court).
Make sure you do not sign any papers on the spot unless you completely understand them
If you collide with a parked vehicle and the owner is not present there, it must be reported
Finally, you should make sure you notify your insurance company within seven days of the accident and provide all necessary documents for the claim

Conclusion

If you are cycling in Spain, there is a wide range of rules you must follow to make sure you are not a danger to yourself or others on the road, be they cars or pedestrians. Once you have gone through this guide, you will be better prepared to navigate the roads safely.