Bike rental service will always be public in Malaga: these will be the prices

Málaga is taking a new step towards having a public bicycle rental service for the first time, following the failure of the private system. The initiative ... has completed its public exposure phase without any objections. The final step is pending a full council meeting to put the file out to tender. There are no specific deadlines, but as expressed by the councilor for Mobility, Trinidad Hernández, in the Urban Planning Commission this Monday, the idea is that the first bicycles can be rented this year, for which there is even a budget.

Both PSOE councilor Pedro Quero and Con Málaga councilor Toni Morillas spoke to welcome the measure and have asked for greater precision in the timelines, staffing, etc.

1,000

bicycles and 100 docking stations are included in the plan.

The councilor responsible for the Mobility Area has emphasized the importance of this service being declared public and has expressed that it will be coordinated by the Malaga Transport Company (EMT) with the idea of it being another public mode, with rental points close to the main places of demand. "The intention is to start this year and have the service consolidated next year," she emphasized.

The implementation report includes among its main conclusions that the service will be implemented progressively over three years starting next year (2026). The commitment of the Málaga City Council is to incorporate up to 1,000 electric bicycles and 100 docking stations in three phases. In the year 2026-2027, 300 electric bicycles and 30 stations will be incorporated. The following year, there will be 520 bicycles and 52 stations. And in the third year, 180 bikes and 52 points.

Vehicle Fleet

The document also indicates that the system will be designed and sized to accommodate up to a maximum of 2,000 bicycles and 200 stations to meet future demands and needs, after the first 10 years which is the time frame studied for the implementation of the service.

As for the planned investment, an initial investment for the acquisition and implementation of the necessary resources for the operation of this electric bicycle system related to the service stations and their installation, construction, as well as software and hardware, among others, is contemplated.

Thus, according to the study conducted for the report, the investment for the start-up and operation of the service over 10 years amounts to 6,640,638.18 euros (with a multi-year investment between the years 2026, 2027, and 2028. The report anticipates up to 2,000 bicycles and 200 docking points, which will be incorporated into the service, if necessary, from 2029 onwards.

40

euros will be the monthly subscription.

Two subscription modes have been established: a monthly subscription of 10 euros/month and an annual subscription of 40 euros per year. As for the service usage rates, for the first 30 minutes: 0.35 euros for the monthly mode and 0.30 euros for the annual mode. From minute 31 to 60, it will be 0.70 euros for the monthly subscription and 0.60 euros for the annual subscription. And, from 60 minutes onwards, it will be 5 euros per hour of use, applicable to both subscription modes.

Regarding the locations of the planned stations, they have been considered based on criteria of population density and existing cycling infrastructure, in the districts of Centro, Este, Cruz del Humilladero, Carretera de Cádiz, and Teatinos.

In the studies, an average annual demand has been obtained ranging from 379 in the first year (2027) to 1,361 in the tenth year (2036) for the monthly subscription, and 6,439 in the first year to 23,139 users with an annual subscription. The revenues expected from the subscriptions (monthly or annual) for the first year have been estimated at 261,350 euros.

The operating expenses necessary for the provision of the service such as personnel expenses, cleaning, repair and maintenance, spare parts, insurance policy, amortizations, etc., have been estimated for 10 years at a total cost of 25,774,116 euros. Finally, it is estimated that the municipal contribution after 10 years for the maintenance of this public service will amount to 11,482,858 euros (amount without considering the subsidy from the Ministry) or 10,452,826 euros (taking into account the subsidy).