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New Cycling Rules in 2025: Do cyclists in Spain have to follow the law? 14 things to know

By Marc Menendez-Roche • Published: 03 May 2025 • 13:38 • 4 minutes read

A sign painted on the street for "bicycle lane", Alicante province, Costa Blanca, Spain.

Cycling in Spain in 2025: Do cyclists have to follow the rules? 10 things you need to know before you jump on your bike. Credit: Ernest Rose, Shutterstock

As Spain pedals into a cycling boom, the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) has laid down the law – and some of the rules are anything but a freewheeling ride. From mobile phone bans to booze busts, from parallel pelotons to pedestrian pandemonium, there’s a hefty list of dos and don’ts every cyclist must know.

Here’s your crash course in Spanish bike law 101 – with fines that’ll knock the wind out of your lycra.

Cycling in Spain

Number 1: Hold the phone – or cough up €200

Think you can take a call mid-ride? Think again. Using a mobile or wearing headphones while cycling is strictly forbidden, just like in any other vehicle. Ears need to be on high alert – not blasting reggaeton. Fine: €200

Number 2: Pump the brakes – with a wave

Braking suddenly? You can signal with a quick up-and-down arm wave – but don’t panic if it’s too quick to let go. This one is recommended, not required.

Number 3: Cycle lanes are there to be used

They’re not just pretty paint on the pavement. While not mandatory, it’s strongly advised to stick to cycle lanes whenever available – especially in cities or on roads.

Number 4: No beer, no pedalling

Drink-cycling? You might not lose a licence, but you will lose money. Not to mention putting people’s lives at risk. Cyclists are held to the same 0.5g/l blood alcohol limit as drivers. Fine: €500–€1,000 depending on level and history.

Number 5: One kid only, and under 7

Fancy sticking a toddler on the back of a bicycle and heading into potentially deadly traffic? Believe it or not, it’s legal – as long as they’re under 7, in a proper seat, and you’re over 18. Break that rule and it’s a €100 fine – but the real cost could be far worse. This is no joke.

Number 6: Lights on, or get done

Riding at night, in tunnels or underpasses? All cyclists must have front and rear lights switched on. Fine: €200.

Number 7: Pedestrians first, always

Zebra crossings aren’t a personal runway for cyclists. Cyclists must give way to pedestrians in Spain – even if there’s no marked crossing when turning into another street. Fine: €200.

Number 8: Cycle path = top dog

When riding on marked bike lanes, cyclist crossings or hard shoulders, cyclists have priority over cars. Elsewhere? Follow the road signs like everyone else. Failing to give way = €200

Number 9: Roundabout rules

Ahh roundabouts… In a group? The whole pack gets priority once the lead cyclist enters the roundabout. Yep – the whole pack. But cyclists need to follow the same rules on roundabouts as everyone else. This means giving way to the left. If someone has already entered the roundabout to your left, you give way. When you enter, you signal with your hands. The left lane goes left, the right lane goes straight on or right. You signal to enter if you’re going left, you signal to exit the roundabout unless you’re going straight ahead. No racing in the right lane to left, or the left lane to go right. Same as everywhere else.   

Number 10: Obey traffic lights or pay up

Yes, that red light applies to cyclists too. Same with STOP and Give Way signs. Fine: €150–€500.

Number 11: Indicate…

Whether they’re turning, changing lanes or pulling out – arm signals are mandatory for cyclists. Fine: €200.

Number 12: Helmet rules for cyclists in Spain

Only under-16s must wear helmets in town – but everyone should.

Fine for no helmet (if required): €200

Number 13: Zebra crossings = dismount zone

Cyclists are not pedestrians just because they’re on a bike. If they want to use a pedestrian crossing, they have to get off and walk it like a pedestrian. Fine: €200.

Number 14: No pedalling on pavements

Sidewalks are a strict no-go unless they’re signed for shared use. Fine: up to €100.

NEW RULES FOR 2025 – know them before you ride

The DGT is shifting gears in 2025 with a new batch of rules to make roads safer for cyclists and drivers– and penalties stricter than ever.

City updates:

  • Cyclists must now ride in the centre of the lane on urban roads – not squashed against the curb.
  • Cars must keep a 5-metre gap behind bikes in cities.

Overtaking rules:

  • On rural roads, overtaking a cyclist now requires slowing down to at least 20 km/h below the limit and leaving 1.5 metres minimum space.
  • Drivers can cross a solid white line to do it – but only if it’s safe.

Night visibility:

  • Reflective clothing is now compulsory at night or in low-light conditions – no exceptions.

New powers for cyclists:

  • In one-way streets (limit 30 km/h), cyclists can now go against the flow legally.
  • In traffic jams, cyclists are allowed to filter between lanes – left or right – but only if they’re careful and visible.

On the open road – different gear, different rules

Reflect and respect

At night or in low light, cyclists must wear high-vis reflective gear visible from 150 metres away. Fine: €80.

Helmet on – no excuses

On the road, everyone must wear a helmet, no ifs, no buts. This includes all cyclists – unless they are in a competition, climbing a serious hill, or it’s dangerously hot. Fine: €200.

Use the hard shoulder

Cyclists must use the hard shoulder when it’s there – only venturing onto the carriageway during long downhill stretches. Fine: €200

Ride two-by-two, but with care

Cyclists in Spain can ride two abreast, but not in narrow sections or blind spots. Then it’s single file only. Fine: €100.

What the DGT says

A recent DGT explainer video cleared up the confusion about solid white lines:

‘Yes, you can cross a solid line to overtake a cyclist – but only if it’s completely safe,‘ the DGT confirmed on its official site.

Failing to do so properly doesn’t just risk a fine – it could cost lives.

Cycle smart. Signal sharp. Ride safe.

Stay tuned for more news for people living in Spain.

Get more motoring news from around Spain.

Written by

Marc Menendez-Roche

Marc is a writer, educator, and language enthusiast with a background in business and legal communication. With over a decade of experience in writing and teaching, he brings a clear, engaging voice to complex topics—guided by a keen interest in educational neuroscience and how people learn. At Euro Weekly News, Marc contributes lifestyle features and community-focused stories that highlight everyday life across Spain. His ability to connect language, learning, and lived experience helps bring depth and relatability to the topics he covers.

Comments

    • Algoz

      04 May 2025 • 00:46

      And how many are going to obey these rules? The majority think they own the roads….

    • John McLean

      04 May 2025 • 08:15

      Let’s see a few fines dished out on the rural roads around my area then. The multitude of cyclists using them just do what they like and cause chaos.

    • Tony

      04 May 2025 • 08:42

      And where are the police to enforce these rules? The cycle lanes are mostly pathetic and dangerous where they are painted on the road. DGT should look to the Netherlands. Cyclists have their own lanes and traffic lights. You can cycle anywhere in complete safety. The dangerous part is when pedestrians mostly tourists wander into these lanes. Cyclists have right if way and you very likely will get sworn at or pushed out of the way.

    • Mark

      04 May 2025 • 09:20

      And what about the scourge of the 21st century- scooters, whether electric or not? They apparently have no rules at all.
      Can you clarify the rule (#9) on roundabouts? My understanding is that you should regard them as straight roads, from which you can only turn right. Think about it, and it makes perfect sense, and cuts out the need to double guess what a driver signalling really means . So only signal when exiting the roundabout, which always means a right turn.
      That is not what you suggest in the article that cyclists should do..

      • Marc Menendez-Roche

        04 May 2025 • 10:13

        Hey Mark,
        Thanks for reading — and yes, scooters really are out of control lately!

        Great question about Rule 9. The answer is, it’s murky here. In Spain, roundabouts are supposed to follow the “clock face” rule. If your exit is to the left of 12 o’clock, you’re meant to enter in the inside (left) lane, indicate left, and then move gradually to the outside lane as you approach your exit — signalling right and again signalling right before you leave. If your exit is to the right of 12, you enter in the outside lane and indicate right to exit.

        If your exit is at 12, drive straight ahead. If you’ve entered in the outside lane, you don’t need to indicate at all in theory.

        Even if you make a mistake or change your mind about the exit, the key idea is that your movements should be predictable and smooth, not cutting sharply across lanes. That applies to all road users — even cyclists, though of course it’s much harder for them in heavy traffic.

        You’re absolutely right that it’s not well enforced or even properly taught. A lot of instructors and examiners give conflicting advice, which leaves most drivers confused and just doing what feels safest. Your interpretation — signalling only on exit — does feel easier sometimes.

        Appreciate the comment — roundabouts definitely deserve more clarity than they get.

        Thanks again for reading, and for your brilliant question.

        Marc

        • Pidge

          04 May 2025 • 18:32

          Murky is right: according to my recent checks, the outside lane is to be used for all exits. I’m a biker and have frequently seen driving instructors doing this. And as we all know, not indicating destroys all function of a roundabout. And traffic lights!

    • Tricia Gabbitas

      04 May 2025 • 10:04

      Cycles and electric scooters constantly ride on pavements and pedestrian areas. Absence of street-police gives them free reign.

    • Jack

      04 May 2025 • 16:48

      Who,,,in their right mind, decided it to be OK for cyclists to be able to ride against the flow of traffic in a one way system!??? The mind boggles! 🤔🤬

    • Marjory Wheeler

      05 May 2025 • 11:58

      Anther DGT joke, as if any police officer will do anything regarding these cyclist criminals. The majority truly believe they and only they have the right to be on the road. They are horrible people. The best thing to do is bring in a license system and insurance system so they are forced to contribute something to the thing they believe they own and make sure that all other vehicle owners know that the cyclist is king of the road. There is much I want to say about these horrible people but it is not worth it. Make them pay road tax, make them have insurance but better still get them off the roads altogether.

      • Duncan

        05 May 2025 • 18:35

        Oh dear Marjory, l think the ‘cyclist criminals’ do less damage and harm to each other and the environment than the ‘vehicle criminals’. Perhaps you should try it?

        • Marjory

          06 May 2025 • 07:44

          So we have a cyclist defending his criminal pals, to be expected but I also cycle and I stand by my comments. Cyclist must pay road tax and they must have insurance and they do cause many accidents

          • Douglas

            06 May 2025 • 17:54

            Can you let us know your geographic location, so that us cyclists can avoid the area . You sound the type that would force a cyclist into the ditch .

    Comments are closed.

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