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Getting around Cartagena by bike is about to get a fair bit cheaper. From September 22, which happens to be European Mobility Day, the city's bike rental scheme run in partnership with Hoppy will see its standard rate fall from €0.25 to €0.20 per minute, a straightforward 20% cut.

 

It doesn't stop there either. Seniors over 65, people with disabilities, students and the unemployed will now benefit from a 40% discount, bringing their rate down to just €0.16 per minute. Mayor Noelia Arroyo explained the thinking behind it simply enough. "When a service works and citizens use it, the next step is to improve it," she said, adding that the changes are designed to help more people, particularly students, seniors, those with disabilities and the unemployed, make use of this sustainable way of getting about.

 

The scheme has clearly found its feet since launching. So far it's clocked up 32,000 trips and 88,000 kilometres, with 8,300 people using it at least once. According to the Ayuntamiento, that's helped avoid around 10.3 tonnes of CO2 emissions that would otherwise have come from car journeys. Coverage extends beyond the city itself too, reaching La Manga and Cabo de Palos during the summer months.

 

The service has come a long way since its launch. It began with just 120 electric bicycles across the city centre, later expanding to 300, and now taps into a growing network of more than 35 kilometres of bike lanes across Cartagena. Bikes are strategically placed near key spots such as Santa Lucía Hospital, the university area, the port and Cartagonova stadium, part of a deliberate effort to put bicycles where people's daily journeys actually happen. "We wanted bicycles to be located where daily commutes actually occur," Arroyo explained, adding that the scheme forms part of the wider CartaGO! mobility programme, which also includes park-and-ride facilities and projects such as Espacio Algameca.

 

Regular users get a decent upgrade as well. The old monthly subscription, capped at 60 minutes a day and four unlocks, is being replaced with a much more generous pool of 1,800 minutes and 120 unlocks a month, usable however suits you best. There's also a new six month pass on offer for €149. On top of that, the Hoppy app will soon feature information about Cartagena's heritage sites and tourist attractions, linking a bike ride with a bit of sightseeing along the way.

 

Anyone eligible for the discounted rate can apply from September 22 onwards. Those over 65 just need their ID, people with disabilities their disability card or certificate, both valid permanently. Students will need proof of enrolment, valid for the academic year including summer up to August 31, while unemployed residents must show a current DARDE and renew it to keep the discount going.

 

The timing also lines up with some welcome recognition. Cartagena has picked up its second consecutive Spanish Sustainable Mobility Week award from the Ministry of Transport, this year specifically for the bike rental service itself, following last year's award for the Espacio Algameca green corridor project.

 

 

Images: Ayuntamiento de Cartagena