Barcelona, the world capital of motorcycles
Motorcycles have gained prominence in the city in the last five years, while cars, mopeds, vans and trucks are losing power in the Catalan capital.
A report from Barcelona City Council notes that over the past five years (2020-2025), the number of vehicles in the city has remained stable, but with substantial changes in vehicle types. Thus, over the past five years, Barcelona has seen approximately 18,000 fewer registered cars, while over the same period, the number of motorcycles has grown by approximately 20,000 registered units. Curiously, the increase in motorcycles has not been accompanied by an increase in mopeds, and Barcelona has recorded a decrease of approximately 11,000 registered mopeds. The total number of trucks and vans has also decreased, but almost imperceptibly: the City Council indicates that there are approximately 500 fewer trucks and approximately 850 fewer registered vans now than five years ago.
The total number of private vehicles registered in Barcelona is 813,465, of which 56% are cars or passenger cars and 29% are motorcycles. The growth in motorcycles of considerable displacement and power, in a context of a decline in mopeds, passenger cars, vans, and trucks due to new mobility paradigms and environmental restrictions, is explained by a combination of various causes, including the ease of getting around the city on a two-wheeled vehicle, its lower purchase price, and the fact that motorcycles of a certain displacement allow for getaways and outings outside the city using motorways and dual carriageways.
But beyond the aforementioned reasons, there are two final decisive and differentiating factors that make Barcelona the motorcycle capital of the world: the city's privileged weather and the culture of its population. Barcelona is a city with irregular and scarce rainfall (rain is one of the greatest dangers for motorcycles) and maintains mild temperatures in winter (there are few recorded snowfalls, let alone frost) and pleasant temperatures for much of spring and autumn, which favors motorcycle use.
The second factor explaining the rise of motorcycles in Barcelona is eminently cultural. Throughout Catalonia, and especially in Barcelona, motorcycles are loved and arouse passion among the public. Just look at the number of Catalan champion riders in the main two-wheeled sporting categories—such as MotoGP, trials, enduro, and even the Dakar and endurance races—to realize that motorcycles are a substantial element of Barcelona culture, which has managed to maintain itself as a pattern of consumption and mobility across generations.
