Two-thirds of all weekday trips in Barcelona area now sustainable
Private car use declines, but still accounts for 32% of 20 million daily commutes
As the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change become more apparent, sustainable mobility in cities is rising.
In 2023, two out of three weekday trips in the Barcelona area were made by sustainable transport, according to the annual report of the Barcelona Metropolitan Transport Authority (ATM).
The average number of trips made in a single working day exceeded 20 million, an increase of 5% over the previous year. Of these, two-thirds were made by public transport, bicycle, scooter or on foot.
The use of public transport increased by 14%, especially during off-peak hours and partly due to the discount policy implemented in 2022.
Women use more sustainable transport methods than men, walking more frequently (52% versus 45%) and using public transportation more often (20% versus 13%).
The increase in sustainable mobility methods has reduced the use of cars, which is down compared to pre-pandemic years.
However, private cars still account for 6.5 million trips per working day, or 32% of the total.
Remote working, crucial for reducing private vehicle use, stabilized in 2023, accounting for around 10% of all working days, and becoming more present in Barcelona city.
ATM director Manuel Valdés said these were "very good news" that reflected "efforts" to promote sustainable and active mobility.
"Sustainable transport is gaining ground at a significant rate compared to private transport," he said while presenting the figures.
Valdés pointed out that this trend includes the entire Barcelona region, which has areas with less public transport availability and more car dependency.
"We are on the right track, and the goal is to continue to grow and offer a mix of mobility options that reduce car use," he said.