BiciMAD
A fun, simple and sustainable means of transport enjoyed by all cycling enthusiasts. Madrid has its own electric bike rental service, BiciMAD, so that locals and visitors alike can get from A to B quickly and easily, and get a little exercise on the way. As of 2020, Bicimad has a stations and bikes in 15 districts, including five new areas offering this service for the first time (Carabanchel, Usera, Moratalaz, Latina and Ciudad-Lineal).
Promoting more balanced and sustainable transport habits is the aim of this brand new service, equipped with more than 3,000 electric bicycles that can be picked up at over 264 points dotted around the city. One of the great things about BiciMAD is that it employs information technology to make users' experience easier, telling them in real time if any bikes are available at the nearest pick-up point when they check the app on their mobile devices or on the touch screens at the hire stations. All you have to do is register at any of the bike hire stations, either for a yearly season ticket or as an occasional user. In the latter case, you'll be issued with a card that lasts for 1, 3 or 5 days and you'll be billed at the end of the period for the number of times you used the service.
New bicycle model
The introduction of the new bicycle model which begins on 7 March 2023 coincides with an unlimited free service (until 31 July) in order to encourage bike mobility in the city and so that citizens can discover the advantages of a public electric bike system first-hand.
This new bicycle model is more manageable, ergonomic and robust and is designed to improve the user experience. The BiciMAD free service is applicable to two bicycle models and all docking stations. Once the implementation project is completed, there will be 7,500 electric bikes and 611 docking stations, all of which have been newly acquired and are distributed around the 21 districts of Madrid.
To guarantee the availability of bicycles, they may not be used for more than 30 minutes at a time. As many trips as required can be made in a day, provided that the bicycle is left at the docking stations. Throughout this period, new registrations and renewals will be free of charge.
How do you start using the bikes?
It's very easy, to pick up a bike the base must be showing a green light. To return a bike, the base must be showing a red light. If the light is blue it means that the bike has been reserved by another user. Although the most popular bike hire stations are the ones in Puerta del Sol and Plaza de la Cebada, in La Latina neighbourhood, there are lots more around Madrid, including near the Royal Palace and San Miguel Market, on Paseo del Prado and in Plaza de la Independencia.
The BiciMAD service offers the Booster Bike, a bicycle to which electric technology has been added in order to help pedalling. The electric motor assumes much of the effort that otherwise would be assumed by the user.
To switch the bicycle on and off, there is a red button on the handlebar with ON/OFF options. The green MODE button regulates the level of electrical assistance and the LOW, MED and HIGH positions represent the selected level of assistance. In order to check the bicycle’s battery level, the indicator is on the right hand side of the control panel.
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