Cyclability in Palma
Cyclability in Palma
Cyclability indicates the quality of a city’s cycling infrastructure to make it safe and accessible for bicycle travel.
Palma has an extensive and interconnected cycling infrastructure that extends radially from the historic center to the periphery. High cyclability values are concentrated in 12% of the urban core. Notable high cyclability areas include the coastal bike lane from El Molinar to Coll d’en Rabassa. The hills of Bellver and Son Vida, located west of the city, have the lowest cyclability levels.
What does cyclability depend on?
The degree of cyclability results from various factors: cycling capacity, distance to the nearest bike lane, cycling route intersections, shared bike stations, and slope.
Cyclable capacity
Palma has a cycling network consisting of 92 km of segregated bike lanes, complemented by numerous inverted-priority streets and pedestrianized sections. The city’s bike lane network is structured with concentric rings and radial routes extending from the center to the periphery, along with some traffic-calmed areas where cycling is possible. Cycling capacity is high in 11.5% of the urban core.
Distance to the cycling network
The average distance to the cycling network in Palma is 226 meters. There are significant differences between neighborhoods. Central neighborhoods have greater proximity to the network compared to those on the periphery, influenced by a predominantly radial structure. Santa Catalina, Camí d’en Serralta, and Plaça dels Patins are very close to the cycling network. In contrast, La Indioteria, the center of La Vileta, and Coll d’en Rabassa are farther from the bike lanes.
Density of interactions in cycling lanes.
In Palma, the highest cycling interconnectivity is found in the historic center. High-connectivity nodes are also present in some peripheral areas of the city and along the coastal zone. The density of intersections between cycling routes is high in 6% of the city.
Bicycle parking density
Palma has an average of 2.5 bicycle stations per hectare. Bicycle parking facilities (BiciPalma and private bike racks) are primarily located in the city center. There are two major exceptions: Son Caldera (northeast) and Son Dameto-Son Cotoner (northwest).
Slope
Palma has a topography suitable for cycling in the eastern half of the city. 74% of the city has a slope of less than 5%. The exceptions are the areas of Bellver and Son Vida in the west of the city.
Location map
