An initiative to revitalise public transport
The city of Madrid has launched an innovative measure that will allow citizens to enjoy free transport on buses and bicimad for two days, thus facilitating the return to normality after the holidays. This action, which will begin at 00:00 hours on Tuesday, April 7 and will extend until midnight on Wednesday, April 8, aims to encourage the use of public transport and reduce vehicular congestion on the main roads of the capital.
The free service will apply to the entire fleet of buses from the Municipal Transport Company (EMT), excluding the Express Airport line. To access the service, users must validate their transport ticket upon boarding the bus. Those without a pass or physical card will receive a single ticket at no cost directly from the driver.
Not only will buses be available free of charge; the bicimad system, which offers electric bicycles throughout the city, will also be free for journeys not exceeding 30 minutes. This service covers all 21 districts of Madrid and has over 7,700 electric bicycles, providing an eco-friendly and healthy option for getting around the city.
Although this measure may seem new, Madrid has implemented similar initiatives since January 2021, following the complications caused by the Filomena storm. So far, free days have been activated on 30 different occasions, benefiting approximately 82.70 million travellers. Of these, nearly 16 million are people who normally do not use the bus.
The system has proven effective during key events; for example, last Black Friday reached a historic record with nearly 1,944,021 users in a single day. The inclusion of the bicimad service as an integral part of the free programme was definitively established in 2025, allowing more citizens to opt for sustainable alternatives.
Through these initiatives, Madrid aims not only to alleviate urban traffic but also to promote more sustainable habits among its residents. With each free day, it is hoped to attract new users to public transport and thus contribute to more efficient and environmentally friendly mobility.
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