Lorraine Williamson
Malaga is often held up as a model of Mediterranean modernity — sleek promenades, electric scooters, and a lifestyle that celebrates the outdoors. Yet behind the postcard image lies a frustrating truth: for many residents, cycling remains impractical.
Despite more than 180 kilometres of bike lanes, the city ranks lowest among Spain’s twenty largest urban areas for cycle paths per inhabitant.
The contradiction is hard to miss. A city promoting sustainability and clean transport has built a network that serves visitors better than those who call Malaga home.
Coastal comfort, urban chaos
Tourists pedalling along the coast between La Malagueta and Pedregalejo might believe Malaga is a cyclist’s paradise. The routes are smooth, scenic, and safe — perfect for an hour’s leisure ride or a day of sightseeing. But move inland, and the experience changes dramatically.
In districts such as Teatinos, Ciudad Jardín, and Puerto de la Torre, residents often find themselves squeezed between traffic, uneven pavements, and lanes that start and stop without warning. The infrastructure looks complete on paper, but on the ground, it’s fragmented — a patchwork of paths rather than a coherent network.
Numbers that don’t add up
The latest report from PONS Mobility highlights the imbalance. While Malaga’s 180 kilometres of cycle paths sound substantial, the figure means little in a city of over half a million people. On a per-resident basis, Malaga sits at the bottom of Spain’s major cities for accessible cycling routes.
By contrast, Vitoria, Seville, and Valencia have created integrated systems where cycling is not just encouraged — it’s practical. There, bike lanes link residential zones, business districts, and public transport hubs, making the bicycle a genuine substitute for the car.
Missed chance for a greener city
For a city that markets itself as sustainable, the shortage of connected cycle paths is more than an inconvenience; it’s a lost opportunity. Congestion and air pollution continue to rise, and while cycling could help, many residents simply don’t find it safe or feasible. The daily commute often means taking the bus or sitting in traffic, even for short distances that could easily be covered on two wheels.
Urban planners have long warned that the city’s coastal-heavy development model risks creating a “tourist bubble” — well-equipped in front of the camera, but underdeveloped where most people live and work.
City Hall’s promise to close the gap
Malaga’s local council acknowledges the problem. Officials have announced plans to extend the cycle network and connect isolated lanes into a single, continuous system. The vision, as reported by Diario Sur, is to make cycling a practical choice for everyone — not just a weekend leisure activity or tourist attraction.
Progress, however, will depend on more than promises. Real investment, consistent urban planning, and integration with public transport will be key if Malaga wants to shift from symbolic sustainability to genuine mobility reform.
Priorities
Malaga’s sunshine and sea breeze make it a natural home for cyclists. But until the city balances its priorities between visitors and residents, cycling will remain more of a photo opportunity than a way of life. The challenge now is to build not just more paths — but better ones, connecting every barrio, school, and workplace. Only then can Malaga truly call itself a city built for cyclists.