Some newly right-wing run cities in Spain adopt pro-car policies

After a key bike lane was removed from a part of the city of Elche cyclists took direct action and, for a few hours at least, reclaimed the streets.

Transcript

00:00 After a key bicycle lane was removed from a part of the city of Elche, these cyclists

00:07 took direct action and for a few hours at least reclaimed the streets.

00:11 The new local government in Valencia region, which is now made up of the Conservative Party

00:16 and the far-right Vox Party, made the controversial decision to allow vehicles more space on Elche's

00:22 roads.

00:23 But it turns out the protest was in vain and the removal looks permanent.

00:28 Two months later, the one kilometre long bicycle lane has now been scrapped and the confidence

00:33 some bike riders feel when riding the main road has gone too.

00:45 The authorities insist that they're not against the bike lanes but that some are wrongly placed,

00:50 which makes them dangerous as they come into conflict with other traffic on the roads.

00:54 And other city residents agree.

01:12 But keeping streets safe for cycling and allowing vehicles space may not be the only sticking

01:16 point.

01:18 The lanes were financed as part of a larger EU project to develop low-emission zones in

01:22 the city and according to one former mobility councillor, the authorities might need to

01:27 give the money back now.

01:44 The local authorities have not yet commented on the funding issue but they have announced

01:48 a plan to build an underground car park with 1,500 spaces in the city centre.

01:54 .

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