Autumn starts in Madrid with many changes when it comes to getting around the city. These changes affect all of us who come and go around the city: pedestrians, 4-wheeled drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists and users of skateboards and scooters, electric or otherwise. The City Council of the capital is looking for healthier habits for citizens, such as moving around on foot or by bicycle. And to improve air quality in Madrid by using public transport rather than private vehicles.
Coexistence, from the point of view of mobility, is essential in a big city like Madrid. That is why it is important to know who has priority on a road, on a street or even on the pavement itself. So, what does this consist of? municipal ordinance on sustainable mobility?
As a general rule, as of 23 November, the restricted traffic area for Madrid Central will come into effect. In other words, it will not be possible to drive in the central district, except for residents, public transport and other exceptions that are included in the new sustainable mobility anti-pollution protocol.
The pedestrian in Madrid
From now on, when walking in the city, we will have more advantages as pedestrians. For example, motorbikes will not be allowed to park on pavements less than 3 metres wide. And on streets that are limited to 20 km per hour, pedestrians will have priority over vehicles, although they will have to have a sign indicating this.
In areas marked as “zones 30”, There will be certain streets where pedestrians can cross any part of the road, always taking care not to be endangered by a vehicle. It is important to differentiate between these areas in the centre of Madrid and the streets that are effectively limited to 30 km/h, which are many more than the others.
The regulation also includes the possibility of temporarily enabling pavements, streets or public spaces exclusively for pedestrian use.
The use of bicycles
It is Madrid City Council's second priority to provide the city with sustainable mobility.
. For this purpose, bicycle users may turn right on a red light, provided that it is well signposted.
. In addition, in the residential streets, On roads with a maximum speed of 20 km/hour, bicycles may travel in both directions unless prohibited by a sign.
. On single lane streets, which become a bicycle lanes the maximum speed has been reduced to 30 km per hour.
. It is now permitted to attach bicycles to street furniture, as long as they do not harm pedestrians.
Motorbikes and mopeds
We have already seen that until now motorbikes could park on all pavements in the city without any problem. This is over! This ordinance prohibits motorbikes from being parked if the pavement is less than 3 metres wide, nor if it is within 5 metres of a pedestrian crossing.
. Motorcyclists must respect a minimum distance of 2 metres from the tactile-visual pavements placed at pedestrian crossings and public transport stops.
. The Madrid City Council, for its part, has doubled the space dedicated to motorbike parking in the city centre. This has increased from 1,276 to 2,693 spaces, distributed mainly in the neighbourhoods of the Centro district, i.e. Embajadores, Ópera, Cortes, Palacio, Letras and Universidad.
Motor scooters
I'm sure you see them everywhere these days. Children and adults use them to move from one place to another in the city. It is a fast and non-polluting form of mobility. But the novelty is that they can no longer be used in pedestrian areas or on pavements.
. Users of these motorised vehicles may use cycle lanes, cycle paths and the carriageways of residential streets marked as “30 zones” and the lanes of streets that are limited to 30 km per hour. Always give priority to pedestrians. And on the carriageway, they must ride in the middle of the lane.
Non-motorised skates and scooters
All devices that are not powered by motorised propulsion may travel on pavements and pedestrian areas at a speed appropriate to the user.
They can also use cycle lanes and cycle paths exclusively for bicycles. The important thing to remember is not to disturb or cause danger to others. And if you are on one of these scooters, you should never think that you have priority over pedestrians.
Restricted access to the centre
As of 23 November, a series of new features will be implemented in the Madrid anti-pollution protocol. The aim is to reduce nitrogen dioxide emissions in the city. It mainly affects traffic in the city centre. And all older and polluting vehicles are banned from circulation. That is, diesel vehicles from before 2006 and petrol vehicles from before 2000. Motorbikes are also included if they are older than 2003.
Access will only be granted to:
. Residents' vehicles.
. Electric vehicles.
. Non-resident vehicles with an Eco or Zero environmental label. Those with a B or C sticker may only enter to park in a private garage or public car park.
. Vehicles for people with reduced mobility, public and emergency services, taxis and professionals who have a business in the centre will also have access.
. Motorbikes with an environmental label. Those with B and C may only enter from 7.00 am to 10.00 pm.
. Shared vehicles, carsharing, will also be able to access and park.
. The same applies to owners of parking spaces in the city centre, even if their car is an old one.
Limited speed
The aim is to reduce the number of fatal road accidents in our city and to increase road safety. To this end, a reduction in speed is planned for some roads and streets, especially in the central districts of the capital.
. This is reduced to 30 km/hour on all single-lane, one-way streets.
. It is limited to 20 km/hour in neighbourhoods where the pavements are at the same level as the road. Like in Lavapiés or Chueca.
. Excluding the M-30 and M-40 and other fast access roads to the capital.
Public transport
The City Council recommends the use of public transport. We see it every day on the illuminated signs placed at the entrances to the M-30 or M-40. We are reminded, actively and passively, that there are 60 EMT bus lines, 12 metro lines and 9 suburban lines that leave us in the heart of the city. In addition, to help this sustainable mobility, there are Bicimad or public bicycles, with around 60 stations throughout the city.
Take note of all these measures and new developments in urban mobility that will be of great help to you when you go out on the streets of Madrid, whether as a pedestrian, cyclist, motorcyclist, 4-wheeler driver or as a user of motorised or non-motorised scooters. If you have a vehicle that is no longer allowed to enter Madrid under these new rules, you may be interested in using the long-stay car park and park and ride facilities.
