Riding on the roads in Andalucia
Andalucia is a fantastic destination for a road cycling or bike touring holiday.
Why Cycle in Andalucia
The road surfaces are generally excellent, there are so few pot holes we could actually name them, the super smooth asphalt really does add to the enjoyment of road cycling here. The traffic, away from the Coast, is minimal and the Spanish drivers are extremely courteous to road cyclists again so different to many other places in the world.
Combine this with the wonderful year round climate, over 320 days of sunshine every year, the stunning white villages, fantastic cuisine and beautiful landscapes then Andalucia really is a road cycling paradise. Andalucia is still a relatively undiscovered road cycling gem, so you wont be caught up in the hoards of other cyclists battling for space on the roads or a table at the coffee stops!
Road Rules for Cycling
Below are some of the rules of the road which will help you enjoy your riding in Andalucia.
- Please remember to ride on the right
- You must wear your helmet at all times on the bike
- You can ride 2 abreast but not 3. The Police can fine you for riding 3 or more abreast. It rarely happens but they can if they want too. On the main roads, in and out of Ronda please ride single file save the 2 abreast for the quieter roads.
- If you are in a town centre and it is busy with pedestrians please dismount and walk
Riding in Andalucia and the traffic
You may have noticed the the main roads have 3 white lines, one in the middle, another solid white line on the edge defining your lane of travel and another solid line on the far side defining the opposite lane of travel.
To the right of the solid line on the edge of the road which defines your direction of travel is some additional tarmac, we will call this the hard shoulder. Please DO NOT ride on the hard shoulder, it is technically off the road, ride in between the solid white line on the right of your lane and the line in the middle of the road for the following reasons
- The hard should will vary in width and you will have to weave on and off the road which is more dangerous than riding in a steady line ON the road proper
- The hard shoulder has a lot of road debris and you are more likely to skid when braking or have a puncture
- Probably the most important reason is the Spanish Highway Code says there must be a white line between you, on the bike, and the vehicle passing you. Therefore, if you ride on the hard shoulder the cars, vans, buses and trucks do not need to move out of the lane because the white line will be on your left and between you and them and they will pass you closer than if you ride in the lane of travel as most vehicles would then straddle the white line in the middle of the road and give you plenty of space
On the quieter roads there is not always 3 lines, these roads can be quite narrow so use your common sense when and if you can ride 2 abreast. Spanish drivers will wait behind you on a narrow, twisty road until they are confident that they can pass you with out causing you or themselves a problem. If you don’t like this stop, make them pass you and then carry on.
I would be reluctant to waive a driver past unless you have a really good line of vision on the road ahead. Best advice is to let the driver decide. The reason for their patience is that the Spanish Highway Code says if there is an accident between a vehicle and bike then it is automatically assumed to be the drivers fault. If you do get cut up by a car, 99 times out of 100 it will have a Car Hire sticker on the back and either a Brit, Northern European or American driving it for which we can only apologise.
Finally, you can be riding for 15-20 minutes without seeing a vehicle, please be careful on the descents, remember to stay on your half of the road, these roads can be narrow and if you meet a car coming the other way it will be in the middle of the road too and there won’t be much time to avoid each other. So save your energy for the ascents, take your time on the descents and remain on your side of the road, stay safe and enjoy your road cycling in Andalucia
Cycling Holiday in Andalucia
We offer a range of cycling holidays in Andalucia, providing you with advice on safety, road use, and best routes. Our guided tours are run by experienced guides ensuring you have a safe and enjoyable cycling holiday. Contact us for more information.