The Bicing reaches the year with 130,000 subscribers and six million uses

A little more than a year, the March 22, 2007, the mayor Jordi Hereu did not have a hole in his schedule to lead a solemn inauguration of the most innovative means of public transport in Barcelona hotels. That day, without any official act, premiered on Bicing almost secretly, with a modest number of 14 seasons and 200 bicycles. As if anyone dared to really gamble by the invention.

A year after his birth, all figures related Bicing overwhelmed. Or, as councillor said yesterday Mobility, Francesc Narvaez: "Absolutely no one could have imagined that a year later would have 130,000 subscribers and will reach six million uses. Has been an overwhelming success." Those 14 stations and 200 bikes have been multiplied to reach 286 and 4,000 respectively, in the hope that this year will finish implementing it completely.

When you arrive in August, Barcelona hotels should be completely tarnished by the clearing ecological fleet, with 400 stations and 6,000 bicycles throughout the territory where the slope of the streets permits, but many of them still no bike lanes. By then it expects a half a million applications a month, a figure that roughly 800,000 in February.

When last year the public bike seemed a privilege for the people of the Eixample, Ciutat Vella and the Olympic Village, from three months ago stations reach more remote places, from Trinitat Vella, Alfons el Magnànim and square-Horta for Eivissa one end to the Rambla de Pedralbes Badal and on the other.

The latest expansion has led to a surge of new subscribers, whose Barcelona hotels numbers had stabilized enough after the onset of fever, when offered the annual subscription for just six euros. Those who were the first to subscribe - the first day it premiered with 351 registered users - have already received the renewal of the card, this time by the current price of 24 euros. "Very cheap," insisted yesterday Narvaez, who estimated that each trip will cost only five cents if made two per day for 20 days a month.