Cats and Bicycles in Madrid

[Jon Hundt]

we (my lovely wife and myself) just came back from the fabulous 2008 GME. It was our first trip to Madrid, and it was really very nice indeed.

But - as we talked over our experience we noticed something: we never saw one single bike, and we never saw one single cat.

Is this just because we were in the center of the city? Maybe so, but in Paris we saw plenty of bikes, and a fair share of cats.

Since I am a cat-fanatic and a happy bike rider, I am wondering about all of this.

[Margot]

we (my lovely wife and myself) just came back from the fabulous 2008 GME.

But - as we talked over our experience we noticed something: we never saw one single cat.
Is this just because we were in the center of the city? Maybe so, but in Paris we saw plenty of bikes, and a fair share of cats.
Since I am a cat-fanatic I am wondering about all of this.

Doesn't our faithful forum feline - the fabulous eldeano qualify - or didn't he slither thru after all? :D
Do tell us more about the GME!

[Jon Hundt]

ahh, yes, there was a well-diguised cat-of-many-colors lurking about the GME; in fact Ben did receive a warning from the local police that a certain cat might show under an assumed name and identity. I'll let Ben tell that story...

the GME was an unqualified success. You must try to attend next year! If you haven't yet been to Madrid, let me tell you it is a very beautiful and lively city. Unfortunately, the weather acted up and we had three days of rain and some heavy winds blowing; but even then the city was worth exploring on foot. I bought myself a nice Chinese-made umbrella (with an instruction book in 15 European languages - who needs instructions for an umbrella...?) and we went out a-walking. And eating... and shopping... and just plain looking around.

In the evenings we met with the rest of the GME crew; I was finally able to place names to faces. We had some fabulous meals in restaurants I would never have known about. And I met a lot of new friends, too.

Ben was a fine host - it can't be easy running an event like the GME. But Marina was the true star! She was behind the scenes, pulling the strings and making the whole experience work for everyone.

Take my advice - book NOW for next year's event!

[Legazpi]

I'm afraid facilities for cycling in the centre of Madrid are currently a disgrace, and made worse by the attitude of drivers in general. My work is easily within cycling distance but there is no way I could commute by bike. This issue has even provoked the odd nude demonstration by cycling organisations in Madrid. What few cycle lanes there are serve no purpose apart from getting grants from the EU (a similar trick that has been pulled by a few council's in the UK).

On a brighter note, the council has developed a 60Km cycle lane around the outskirts of Madrid, known as the "anillo verde". It is not really that green (you have to go through quite a few residential areas), and it is not well marked in parts but it does link together some decent parks (e.g. Casa de Campo and Parque Manzanares). There should also be more cycle lanes when the council finishes redeveloping the riverside. However it does seem strange how a country that provides most of the world's top cyclists doesn't seem to encourage people to cycle in general.

As for cats, there are about a dozen or so feral cats living in a patch of wasteland outside my window. They won't be there for long as a constructor is about to send the bulldozers in. I've also seen feral cats hiding in parts of the Retiro. Apparently the Spanish tend to keep domestic cats indoors the whole time. I'm not sure why - maybe because it's a bit difficult to let them out when everyone lives in a flat.

[Marina]

Hi John,

Thanks very much for your great feedback and for the recognition to my work :thumbs-up:.

I guess that with the rain the cats where all hiding (as our favourite forum cat did for a while), but if you go into the Retiro Park you can see a lot of them, and many old ladies feeding them cat food.
Regarding the bikes, it is really shameful that there is no bike culture at all in Madrid. I know that in other cities like Barcelona and Seville they have started this bikes service where you can rent a bike in any point of the city, use it, and then leave it parked in another part of the city near your destination, and they seem to be a great success. Let's see if they get them to Madrid at some point, but as Legazpi says the car drivers would have to learn a lot beforehand.


By the way, I'm sorry to tell you that today the sun is shining in Madrid.

[eldeano]

I didn't see many bikes.

[Diana]

We did see some fellows on bikes wearing white masks (filter like things).

[saiguanas]

I think all of the cats are buried in the great piles of dog crap left on the sidewalks.;D

[eldeano]

I think all of the cats are buried in the great piles of dog crap left on the sidewalks.;D

:eek: :mad: :eek:

[saiguanas]

:eek: :mad: :eek:

...oops...did I forget to say "poor little gatos:'(".

[O_Fortuna]

So am I crazy for being determined to get a bike when I get to Madrid?

I bike here very often, it's a form of exercise and it envigorates me.
I'm thinking that since I'm from New York, I should be okay on a bicycle in Madrid, provided that I wear a helmet, because based on what I've read, Madrid drivers are about as wild as New York drivers..

Other people in Madrid do it, so I see no reason why I cant. Besides, it would be amazing to be apart of the biking revolution in Madrid.

[Legazpi]

No you're not crazy to get a bike in Madrid. You can use the "anillo verde" (a 60km cycle lane that goes round Madrid), casa de campo (a huge park that is very accessible from the centre) and you can plonk your bike on a train and head off into the mountains. It's fine for cycling in your spare time.

My gripe is that I can't readily use my bike to commute to work. It wouldn't be hard for them to put cycle lanes along the main roads such as Castellana and Gran Via. They are certainly wide enough. Also the weather in Madrid is ideal for cycling to work, but instead I have to fight my way through the Madrid rush hour - especially the buses, the drivers of which will pull out in front of you whether it's your right of way or not:mad::mad::mad:.

[O_Fortuna]

Thanks for the reply! It's great to know that there are scenic places to go riding nearby.
However, I was talking about commuting as well. I suppose that during rush hour, a bicycle would be a hassle y no valdría la pena.. Well, I guess I'll check out the scene myself and decide if I'm willing to commute.
Thanks again. :)

[ribeirasacra]

Bikes in Madrid

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=AhIc2wV5HRo
or this?
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=iIyUJEzBywY

[switch007]

Bikes in Madrid
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=AhIc2wV5HRo
solo puedo decir: tiene huevos! Yo no tuve ganas montar en bici en madrid!! Loco!

[O_Fortuna]

Me parece divertido!