The Málaga City Council publishes the draft regulation for 'MálagaBici' and opens a public consultation period until August 18, 2026. The service, managed by the EMT, will launch this year with 300 bicycles and 30 stations.
The Málaga City Council took a decisive step on Tuesday for the city to finally have a public electric bike rental service. The Mobility area has published the draft regulation for 'MálagaBici' and has opened a citizen participation period for residents, entities, and organizations to contribute to the text until the next August 18.
Málaga was, until now, the only major Spanish city without a publicly managed bike-sharing system. With 'MálagaBici', the City Council aims to change this reality and promote intermodality in urban mobility. The service will be provided under the direct management of the City Council through the Málaga Transport Company (EMT).
A regulation that covers everything: from minimum age to rates
The draft regulation establishes the legal framework for the organization, operation, use, rates, and sanctioning regime of the service. Among the technical conditions, the electric bicycles will have a 250 W motor limited to 25 km/h, and will include geolocation, QR codes for traceability, and remote locking.
Access will be completely digital: through an official mobile application, the citizen card, or Mobility as a Service (MaaS) platforms. The service will be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The minimum age to use the bicycles will be 16 years.
The document also regulates the subscription modalities, although the City Council has not yet detailed the specific rates, which will be defined in later phases. What is clear is that the system will be public and managed by the EMT, with the aim of offering an affordable price for Málaga residents.
Phased rollout: 1,000 bicycles and 100 stations in the coming years
The launch of 'MálagaBici' will be done in phases. In the period 2026-2027, 300 bicycles and 30 stations will be added. In the next phase, the numbers will rise to an additional 520 bicycles and 52 stations. The final phase of the initial plan will require 180 more bicycles and 18 additional stations.
In total, the service will reach 1,000 electric bicycles and 100 stations. Furthermore, the City Council anticipates the possibility of expanding to 2,000 bicycles and 200 docking points starting in 2029 if demand requires it. The planned investment for the first ten years exceeds 6.6 million euros, distributed between 2026, 2027, and 2028.
For the residents of Málaga, this means that in the coming months they will start to see the first stations in strategic locations around the city. The service aims to connect neighborhoods, workplaces, and leisure areas, facilitating short trips and reducing the use of private cars.
The taxi ordinance is also being renewed
In parallel, the City Council has published the draft project for the modification of the Municipal Taxi Service Ordinance of Málaga and Tourist Transport. In this case, the period for citizen contributions extends until September 16. The update responds to the need to adapt the regulations to the technological evolution of the sector, new digital intermediation systems, and quality and accessibility requirements.
Both texts, after the consultation period, must be approved by the local government board and the full City Council. They will then be subjected to public display and, finally, published in the Official Bulletin of the Province (BOP) for their entry into force.
Málaga residents interested in providing feedback on 'MálagaBici' can do so through the City Council's Citizen Participation Portal, where the full draft text is available. The deadline ends on August 18, 2026.
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