In the last few years bike use has increased steadily in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, with an average of 18,000 daily trips now taken by bike. There is nearly 97 km of urban bicycle infrastructure and a further 91km of cycle and pedestrian paths across the Green Belt that surrounds the city. Currently 70% of the population resides within 250 meters of the bike lines network.

Here is a map of the bike lanes:

Vitoria-Gasteiz, founded in 1181,  is the capital of the Álava province and second in size only to Bilbao in the Basque Country, northern Spain. It hosts some 240,000 people and held the title of European Green Capital in 2012.

Since then, many green intiatives have been pursued, including 10.5 km of new cycle routes. 

Like Curitiba, Brazil, Vitoria-Gasteiz is comprised of concentric circles, with the city itself at centre. The "Green Belt", a semi-natural green area partially reclaimed from degraded areas, surrounds the centre and brings nature into the city. The third circle is dominated by forestry and mountains.

The city has a high proportion of green public areas, ensuring that the entire population lives within 300m of an open green space. Numerous tangible measures are in place to assist and increase biodiversity and ecosystems services.

Many streets are in addition fitted with traffic-calming measures to make cycling and walking safer (right).

The use of cycling as a mode of transport features highly in the European Green Capital competition criteria, both directly through the Local Transport indicator and also indirectly through emissions, local air quality and noise pollution. As part of the application process cities must detail the quality of the cycle network in place.

Other benefits of being a Green Capital

Vitoria-Gasteiz has implemented or benefitted from other outcomes of being European Green Capital 2012:

1: Financing

It has provided more than 5 million euros of funding.

• 2,625,600 euros already committed by the 12 partners, sponsors and all 3 main partner of Vitoria-Gasteiz European Green Capital 2012 program.
• Over Euros 2.3 million on environmental projects provided in kind.

2: Jobs

• A Business Bureau for Sustainability with the primary objective of promoting green jobs.
• A Certificate for environmental quality to recognize companies that introduce sustainable processes and implement improvements in environmental matters.
• Promotion of international partnerships that provide new opportunities for business development and employment.

3: 250,000 trees

'The Roots of tomorrow: 250,000 citizens and trees to join the Green Belt', a shared project.

• Citizen and business involvement;
• Forests that have enjoyed the cooperation of companies: Heineken, BBVA, Mercedes Benz, and Caja Eurofor Eskalmendi and Euskaldunak.

4: End to flooding

• Signing of the agreement with the Basque Water Agency Ura for the implementation of flood defense works Zadorra River and rivers of the South in the municipality of Vitoria-Gasteiz for the period 2013-2020.

5: Positioning

• Vitoria-Gasteiz was represented at conferences and forums internationally in 2012, sharing its expertise in environmental matters in Italy-France-Brazil-Greece-Sweden-Denmark-China-USA-Belgium-Germany-Argentina-UK ...
• About 120 applications for participation in national and international technical meetings.
• Vitoria-Gasteiz was a representative for the European and Latin American cities in the International Summit Rio +20;
• 65 visits from domestic and foreign delegations;
• About 40 visits from national and international media to publicize and disseminate the image of the city.

6: Media impact

• International media coverage valued at 15 million euros;
• Synergies with television programs that gave widespread a free valuable promotion;
• The brand of Vitoria is now recognized and recognizable: green is its hallmark and its differential.

7: Record tourists

• The Tourist Office broke its record of visits in 2012: more than 118,000, an increase of 3.3% over 2011.

8: Pride

• 204 citizen initiatives contributed to green subsidies;
• 703 local businesses within the Green Deal program;
• Over 3,000 participants on visits to Green Factories;
• Over 15,000 people participated in the Thematic Weeks: Green Week, Energy Week, Week for Waste Prevention, Mobility Week, Food Week, Planning and Landscape, Energy Week.

9: Environmental Projects

• The Green Belt Interior: Green centerpiece structure in the city;
• Vitoria Mountains Natural Park enhancement;
• Biosphere Reserve status granted by Unesco: a target beyond Vitoria Green European Capital.

10: Sustainable Urban Transformation

• 10.5 km of new cycle routes. TOTAL 120 km.
• Traffic calming measures on 45 streets.
• Inauguration of Electric Mobility Center.
• Commissioning and Bicibus Pedibus experiences.
• GRP Project (Gasteiz Recycling Progress) to improve public awareness of recycling.
• New map of Vitoria Noise minimization strategies for noise impacts.
• Star Light Project to avoid light pollution.
• Purchase of 352 flow regulation equipment for street lighting (20% minimum savings).
• Reducing power lamps at 1,000 points in the city (30% savings).
• Installation of 12 LED adjustable lighting and presence detection (85% savings).
• 6% decrease in the volume of water consumed by the city.