The transition from Bicing to metropolitan bikes in the Catalan capital is expected by 2023. This new service will be called “Ambici” and will be extended to 15 nearby towns with interchange stops within the city limits.
At these stops, passengers can switch from one type of bicycle to another. Ambici is different from Barcelona’s Bicing and will not be used to travel around the Catalan capital. Bicycles in the city may also not be taken to ride outside the city limits.
To compensate, the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona, AMB, will build seven stations where it will be possible to exchange the two-wheeled bikes of one system and the other in towns near the city.
It will be something like someone who gets off the bus and takes the subway or the railroad. The aim is to integrate the two bike-sharing models.
The future merger will take several years to consolidate, while the contracts are coming to an end: the Ambici contract for six more years and the Bicing contract, which expires in 2027.
Metropolitan bicycle stops and season tickets
The connection stops will be located at three strategic points:
- L’Hospitalet de Llobregat (City of Justice, Riera Blanca and Collblanc)
- Two in Sant Adrià de Besòs (UPC campus and La Pau neighborhood).
- Other with Santa Coloma de Gramenet (Baró de Viver)
- Esplugues de Llobregat (Zona Universitària)
In the same way, a metropolitan pass will be marketed with which cyclists will be able to use both services. The price of the integrated subscription will be between 53 and 65 euros.
Bicing users who buy the integrated pass will save 20%, as the flat rate will go from 50 to 40 euros and the usage rate from 35 to 28 euros.
When Ambici will be released
Ambici’s new service will be launched in early 2023 with 2,600 bicycles, all electric.
When compared to Bicing vehicles, this service currently has more than 7,000 with 2,000 electric prototypes and around 135,000 subscribers.
Ambici is estimated to cost the AMB about $40.5 million. Of this, 7.2 million came from the European Next Generation anti-crisis funds, which were earmarked for the purchase of bicycles and stops.
With these resources, in addition to the purchase of bicycles, 236 Ambici stations will be built.
The first will be located in Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Sant Joan Despí and Cornellà de Llobregat.
In the next phase, which will take place during the first quarter of 2023, the stops will be extended to 12 more locations: L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Badalona, El Prat de Llobregat, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Esplugues de Llobregat, Sant Just Desvern, Sant Adrià de Besòs, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Molins de Rei, Viladecans, Gavà and Castelldefels.
