Benidorm will expand its local network of smart bike racks with 13 new elements to cover all areas of the city

Benidorm City Council will increase the number of smart bike racks after observing the excellent reception and use of the dozen already installed in the city. As announced this morning during the Mobility Council meeting, thirteen new smart bicycle parking facilities will be installed at various locations throughout the city.

The addition of these new facilities, along with the existing ones, will allow the city to meet demand in all areas of the municipality, thanks to a grant of €543,459.24 allocated to the new bicycle parking areas. The Councillor for Mobility, Francis Muñoz, stated that “the decision to increase the number was made after seeing the great success of the first ones in terms of their use by cyclists. Therefore, with the installation of the new facilities, we will have a total of 25 smart bicycle parking facilities.”

The councillor also reported that his department has detected the misuse of these facilities by some users who leave their bicycles or scooters for longer than usual, thus hindering the intended turnover. In this regard, Muñoz explained that when this type of misuse is detected, the application allows a notification to be sent to the owner so they can remove their bicycle from the enclosure. “We are going to correct this to ensure turnover, which is the main purpose of this type of facility,” he said.

On another note, the Mobility Council also explained the details of the 2025 Asphalt Plan, whose main focus will be on Avenida de l’Aigüera. In addition to the deterioration of the pavement in many sections of the avenue due to use and age, the City Council has identified problems with bus traffic near the Alfonso Puchades bridge due to the narrowness of the roadway and improper parking on both sides, which sometimes blocks the buses' passage.

To solve this, Muñoz announced that parking on the right-hand side of the road, between San Marcos Street and Orxeta Street, will be eliminated to widen the roadway, and a new uphill bike lane will be added from the beginning of the avenue. “This will solve the problem with buses and create more space for cyclists, and only about twenty parallel parking spaces will be removed.”

The Asphalt Plan will also include work on Ramón y Cajal Street and Zamora Avenue, where the green parking zone for residents will be expanded and a new blue zone parking area will be created near the new health center to encourage turnover and compensate for the spaces lost on l’Aigüera Avenue. Similarly, the plan will extend to streets where pavement deterioration has been observed, “where action is absolutely necessary.”

Thus, work will be carried out on Juan Llorca Street, Paraguay Avenue, Londres Street (between Estocolmo and Montecarlo), Vigo Street, La Cala Street, and the CV-70 branch, among others, in addition to possible work on the Red Cross roundabout. The bidding process has already begun, and the bids from the participating companies will be opened tomorrow.

The Mobility Council also discussed the study conducted by the University of Valencia on the ‘Urban Heat Island,’ which is currently in a public consultation period following its initial approval. The study highlights the need to implement green spaces and renaturalize urban areas, revealing that the highest temperatures are recorded in the old town and Colonia Madrid, as well as in the Tossal area, due to the scarcity of green spaces in some locations.

However, one of the main conclusions indicates that Benidorm's model of high-rise buildings with green spaces "helps to mitigate the urban heat island effect, demonstrating once again the coherence of the Benidorm model with sustainability," stated Muñoz. Among the proposed actions are urban gardens, sustainable drainage systems, Low Emission Zones (LEZs) and pedestrian priority zones, climate shelters, public fountains, shade structures, rest areas, and comfortable commuting maps.

The details of the Strategic Renaturalization Plan, outlining its challenges and objectives, were also presented today. The main objective, Muñoz emphasised, is "to combat the effects of climate change." The plan highlights Benidorm's strengths, such as the richness of its urban environment, and sets the objective of increasing urban green spaces through tree planting projects to generate more shade, improving the permeability of pavements, and promoting the ecological network through green and water corridors. Francis Muñoz emphasised that both initiatives—the study on the Urban Heat Island and the Strategic Renaturalization Plan—"are part of the actions we are carrying out within the Climate Change Adaptation Plan."

Furthermore, today's session included explanations of some details regarding the Jaime I underground parking garage, which will begin as soon as the company submits the construction project, "which is being adapted to current regulations." The garage will have approximately 400 parking spaces and will preserve all the existing trees above ground.

Finally, the Councillor for Mobility emphasised that the installation of 29 new parking meters in the city's orange and green zones "does not in any way imply a change in conditions for residents, nor an increase in the blue zone. Parking for residents remains free in these areas." The councillor also indicated that the implementation of these meters is being carried out with European funds.