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In a major push to promote sustainable transport, the Spanish government has announced a huge investment of 40 million euros to get the country cycling.

 

President Pedro Sánchez revealed the plan, which aims to revolutionise the way people move around cities, reducing carbon emissions and promoting a healthier lifestyle.

 

The investment will be split evenly between two initiatives: 20 million will be allocated to public bicycle services in cities, making it easier for residents and visitors to get around without relying on cars. The remaining 20 million euros will be dedicated to electric bicycles for individuals and delivery companies, providing a cleaner and more efficient alternative for daily commutes and deliveries.

 

This investment is on top of the almost 2 billion already spent on alternative transport over the last couple of years, President Sánchez pointed out, which included low price train tickets for youngsters, along with free commuter and medium-distance trains, measures which he believes "have helped citizens make ends meet better".

 

"The metro, the bus, the train, and also bicycles, are part of the daily life of millions of Spaniards, and that is what we, the public administrations, must do, which is to improve the quality and access to these means," the president argued.

 

Mr Sánchez then broke the details of his plan down even further, explaining that of the first 20 million, half will go towards making existing public bicycle schemes cheaper. The other 10 million euros will be allocated to other cities and towns so that they can implement their own bike rental schemes.

 

 

Image: Facewizard via Wikimedia Commons