At the start of 2024, a beautiful 4.5km bike lane was constructed through a pine forest start that separates the the towns of Chiclana de la Frontera and Conil de la Frontera in Andalucia, Spain.
Financed as part of EuroVelo, the European-wide initiative aimed at fostering cycling tourism, this route marked a significant phase in EuroVelo 8, which ambitiously aims to connect Cadiz, Spain, to Athens, Greece, via a seamless 7,560km bike-friendly route.
For a brief moment, it seemed as if Andalucía had embraced the future of cycling. The lane was a success, drawing more people to cycling and proving the positive impact well-thought-out infrastructure can have on a community.
However, the harmony was short-lived. Weeks after its celebrated opening, the path underwent a transformation that was as perplexing as it was dangerous. Giant concrete bollards, over 30cm wide and almost a metre high, were installed at various points along the route — most problematically, on corners.
These obstructions not only consumed a significant portion of the already narrow 2-meter wide path but also introduced a hazardous obstacle for cyclists to navigate, particularly under wet conditions.