Beginning 1 October 2026, Spanish city councils may authorize two-way bicycle travel on single-lane one-way streets with a speed limit of 30 km/h or less. The change, part of an update to the Reglamento General de Circulación, will take effect on each street only after the council installs special signs. Cars will continue to travel in the existing direction.
Until now, cyclists followed the same one-way rules as drivers, regardless of street width or traffic levels. Real Decreto 518/2026 draws a distinction between bikes and cars. Many narrow residential streets can accommodate two-way bicycle traffic without new lanes or major changes. The rule applies only to single-lane urban roads with a speed limit of 30 km/h or less.
Each city council will decide which streets qualify. Without the new signs, the rules remain unchanged, so implementation is likely to vary from city to city. Some councils may move quickly, while others wait. El Periódico and other Spanish outlets report that the reform gives local governments room to decide; it does not impose a blanket rule nationwide.
The law also allows cyclists to filter forward between stopped cars on either side when it is safer. Outside cities, motorists must change lanes fully to pass cyclists, leaving at least 1.5 metres of space and slowing by at least 20 km/h. Violations can bring a 200-euro fine and the loss of licence points. These stricter rules apply on rural and interurban roads.
The Spanish Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) and national media say the reform aims to improve safety for vulnerable road users while allowing cyclists to ride against traffic. The package also encourages cyclists to ride in the centre of the lane in cities for better visibility. El Periódico reports that several cities, including Pamplona, have begun assessing how to implement the rules locally.
The changes are part of a broader effort to protect people on the road and update traffic law for city life. The DGT has also refused to ease fines for failing to use the V16 beacon, as reported earlier. Local councils will set the rules street by street; the pace of implementation and how drivers and cyclists adapt will depend in part on when the new signs go up. Spanish traffic policy is giving greater prominence to people and city streets alongside cars and highways.
