Renfe, Ouigo and Iryo, the three railway companies operating in Spain, have announced that they will prohibit access with electric scooters to their trains. While Renfe and Ouigo have set the date of December 12 for the implementation of this measure, the Italian operator has declared that the ban will be “imminent”, without specifying a specific date, although it implies that it will be this same month.
In this way, the three companies join a series of measures adopted in Catalonia and Madrid, as well as in the city of Seville, which reinforce the restrictions on the public transport of these personal mobility vehicles (VMP). Both the Generalitat and the Community of Madrid prohibit the access of electric scooters on public transport, after the explosion of both devices in the regional Railway service and in the metro, respectively.
In Seville, where sustainable mobility has also taken a prominent role, travelers are not allowed to access the metro with their electric scooters during rush hours on weekdays to avoid causing inconvenience to other passengers. This measure was implemented for the first time in 2021, making the Andalusian capital a pioneer, in Spain, in the regulation of electric scooters in public transport.
As for bicycles, so far they have not been subject to the restrictions announced by the three railway companies. Users of these vehicles can continue to carry their bicycles on trains as before, following the specifications imposed by each operator.
Renfe is the only train operator that offers commuter services (Rodalies in Catalonia). The state company allows bicycle access in its convoys, enriching the intermodal mobility offer for those users who use this vehicle to arrive or complement their train journeys.
The service is free and limited to one bicycle per person. Renfe specifies on its website that the bike must be placed in spaces specially dedicated to bicycles. These places are duly signposted on the Civia high-capacity trains. In the rest of the units that provide the commuter service, it is more difficult to access the train with a bicycle, especially during rush hour, but it is not prohibited.
Renfe recommends that if there are no areas designated for leaving the bike, it should be placed on the access platform, without invading hallways or non-folding seating areas. Likewise, it indicates that if the occupancy of the train is high and it is not possible to travel with the bicycle, you can choose to travel on another train or to receive a refund of the ticket price.
To promote fluid and clean urban mobility, Renfe offers the Bike Train service to combine the use of these two means of transport. In some commuter stations that you can consult at this link, the state operator has a bicycle parking lot so that users can leave their vehicles guarded there.
The state company allows traveling with a bicycle as long as it is folded or disassembled and in a case. It is also required that the pedals be removed and the handlebars rotated 90 degrees.
The rule is limited to a single bicycle per person. If the dimensions of the cover are less than 180 cm long, it is not necessary to pay a special luggage supplement since it is considered hand luggage. But if it exceeds 180 cm, it is necessary to add the Extra Bicycle during the ticket purchasing process.
Folding bicycles are only allowed as long as they fit the maximum dimensions established for luggage (55 x 35 x 25 cm), included free of charge in the price of the basic fare. For bikes measuring 85 x 60 x 25 cm or a maximum of 180 cm in total, you must pay a supplement of 10 euros at the time of purchasing the ticket. Doing it later has a surcharge of 5 euros, if done online, and 20 euros if done directly at the station up to 30 minutes before the train departure.
On medium-distance trains, folded bicycles can travel as hand luggage or special luggage, depending on the measurements. If the bike is folded or packed, it is not necessary to purchase the extra bike. If the bicycle is not folded, you do have to pay for it, but it is not necessary for it to be disassembled or in a case.
The French company also establishes specific regulations for traveling with a bicycle on its high-speed trains. To access the bike in the convoy it is mandatory that it be disassembled and stored in a case. The maximum packaging size is 120 x 90 cm with a maximum weight of 30 kg.
The bicycle is considered additional luggage, so it is necessary to purchase this option, at a cost of 5 euros, at the time of purchasing the ticket or up to 30 minutes before the train departure. If this option has not been activated, 20 euros must be paid at the time of boarding the bike.
Iryo, the most recent addition to high-speed services in Spain, gives travelers the possibility of taking their bicycles on their trains for free. Following the guidelines of Renfe and Ouigo, this Italian company requires that bicycles be disassembled and packaged in a properly closed case.
The dimensions of the bicycle must not exceed 120 cm in length, 90 cm in height and 40 cm in width, thus guaranteeing comfort and safety for passengers.
