Barcelona: Tips for renting bikes and e-scooters

Planning a vacation in Barcelona? Thinking about exploring the city by bike or electric scooter? Unfortunately, it is not that easy. This is because the free-floating sharing system is not available to tourists.  

We explain how to get a bike in Barcelona, how much it costs and what traffic rules you need to follow.

Like many major cities, Barcelona struggles with car traffic. Therefore, it is not advisable to drive a car in Barcelona. In addition to a low emission zone ("Zona de baixes emissiones", ZBE), where only low-emission vehicles and those with a Spanish environmental badge are allowed to drive, you can expect traffic jams and high parking fees.

On the other hand, Barcelona has a good public transportation system. In addition to buses, trams and the metro, there is also a 240-kilometer network of bike paths that invite you to explore the city without a car.

However, travelers will look in vain for rental bikes and e-scooters on public roads. There is a city bike rental company, Bicing, but its services are geared toward locals. Tourists will find what they are looking for in specialized shops.

The public bicycle rental service of the city of Barcelona is "Bicing". It is only for residents of the city. To rent a bike, you need a membership card, which will be sent to your home within 8 days. A Spanish address and an official identification number are required for registration. For more information, visit bicing.barcelona.

As a tourist, it is best to rent bikes and e-bikes from a private company in a shop. The bikes can be reserved online and picked up at the desired time. Guided tours are also available. 

The rental price for a standard bike ranges from €5 to €20 per day. Helmets and child seats are sometimes included.

E-bikes are available from €30 per day.

Important: Make sure you have your ID with you and be prepared to pay a deposit.

Bikes and e-bikes for rent include

• rentabikebarcelona.com
• barcelonarentabike.com
• mattia46.com
• greenbikesbarcelona.com
• bikerentalbarcelona.com

A platform where you can search for providers of rental bikes and e-bikes in Barcelona is listnride.com (private rental and business). You have to register on the website to use the service.

It is not possible to spontaneously rent an e-scooter in Barcelona using an app and a QR code.

If you want to explore the city on an e-scooter, you will need to contact a specialist shop.

• One such company is Lynx.

Lynx rents out e-scooters for a minimum of 24 hours. The cheapest e-scooter is available for €30 per day. From the second day the charge is €25, from the 5th day €23. The minimum age is 16. Guided tours are also available from €39 per person. Alternatively, a suggested GPS tour can be booked for €20. This will navigate you to viewpoints and sights and make suggestions for restaurants and cafes.

• Another rental company is Jetscoot.

You can book an electric scooter online for €15 per hour or €55 per day. A deposit of €100 in cash or credit card is required on the day of pickup. Minimum age is 18 years.

A helmet is included in the rental price.

The maximum speed limit for e-scooters on roads and bike lanes is 25 km/h.

Footpaths are off-limits unless they are reserved for bicycles. In this case, the speed must be reduced to 10 km/h. There is also a 10 km/h speed limit in Barcelona's parks.

E-scooters can be parked in spaces reserved for motorcycles and on sidewalks that are more than 4 meters wide. They are not allowed to be parked in bicycle parking areas, at bus stops or on the sides of buildings. Chaining the electric scooter to lampposts, signs and park benches is also prohibited.

The minimum age to drive an electric scooter in Barcelona is 16. A driver's license is generally not required. However, rental companies may require a driver's license or a higher minimum age, e.g. 18 years.

If the e-scooter is rented from a commercial provider, a helmet is mandatory in Barcelona. Wearing a helmet is recommended for private vehicles.

Failure to comply with traffic regulations can result in heavy fines.

Learn more about e-scooter rules in Spain and the rest of Europe.

In Barcelona, only foldable e-scooters and folding bicycles may be taken on buses and trams, and only if they do not disturb or obstruct anyone.

Normal bicycles and e-bikes can also be taken free of charge on the metro outside rush hour. This is possible

• on weekends and public holidays

• during the week from 5:00 to 7:00, from 9:30 to 17:00 and after 20:30

Bicycles and e-bikes can also be transported free of charge on local trains ("Rodalies de Catalunya"). The only condition is that the train is not too full.