Motorcycle use is rising across Spain, but city streets still favor cars, leaving riders to compete for space. A study by ANESDOR and motos.net found that 88% of motorcyclists want dedicated lanes on basic city roads.
ANESDOR reported that Spain registered 22,440 new motorcycles in August 2026, up 21.3% from the previous year.
The survey also found that 95% of riders support new rules allowing motorcycles to use the right shoulder during traffic jams. Changes to the Reglamento General de Circulación take effect on October 1, 2026. The DGT says motorcycles may use the shoulder only on specifically authorized sections marked with signage, at a maximum speed of 30 km/h and in single file. Riders will also have to wear protective gloves on intercity roads and closed footwear on all roads.
The idea that motorcycles are just for weekends is fading. Four in ten riders use their bikes every day, and nearly half ride to work or school. In Madrid and Barcelona, motorcycles have become a basic way to get through traffic, not simply a hobby.
As more people ride, but, the roads remain much the same. Riders say cities need to keep pace with the growing number of bikes. The gap is clear: motorcycle use is rising, but the roads have barely changed.
The market figures tell a similar story. More than half of current riders plan to buy a motorcycle in the next year, 12 percentage points more than last year. Most plan to buy used bikes, while only one in five is considering a new one. Chinese brands are gaining popularity: more than half of those surveyed would buy from China, mainly because of lower prices.
Marcel Blanes from motos.net and José María Riaño from ANESDOR put it simply: "The study confirms the sector’s strong health: purchase intentions are rising for both new and used motorcycles. Interest in Chinese brands shows a consumer increasingly sensitive to price."
Still, many riders feel stuck with roads that ignore them. The push for shoulder access and special lanes is about staying safe in a system that treats motorcycles as an afterthought. For many, the challenge is finding a safe way to use a bike every day.
This fight is part of a broader debate about how people move around in Spain. Cities have focused on cars, while also addressing public transport; bikes remain part of the debate. As reported earlier, even cyclists face more danger as traffic changes and the roads lag behind.
Spain’s cities now face a choice. Policymakers must decide whether motorcycles are part of daily travel or a side note. Motorcycles are here to stay, and cities that fail to adapt will see traffic worsen. Urban planning needs to catch up with what is happening on the streets.
