Por Pablo Arranz 
The approved change replaces the bicycle sections on Europa Avenue and a new bridge for this new infrastructure, expanding the cycling network in the municipality from 2,208 to 3,078 meters.
The authorization allows for further improvement in connecting the city center and districts, applying more efficient and realistic European funds to the needs of Lorquinos.
Fulgencio Gil Jódar, Primary: «It’s fantastic news that allows us.»
On Friday, July 4, 2025, the Mayor of Lorca, Fulgencio Gil Jódar, announced that the Lorca government successfully adjusted the Low Emission Zone (ZBE) project to the municipality’s needs, following the estimation by the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, on the Low Issues Council. This decision enables adapting the bicycle lanes network to the new urban configuration resulting from the high-speed rail integration works (AVE) and creating a new one on Águilas Road.
Specifically, the central government authorized the removal of the bicycle lanes sections initially designed on Europa Avenue and Puente Nuevo, incorporating a new section on Águilas Road, a change that increases the total length of the bicycle lanes in the project from 2,208 meters to 3,078 meters.
Fulgencio Gil has valued this resolution as «fantastic news for all Lorquinos,» explaining that «we, from the Lorca government, worked intensively to not only improve sustainability but to adapt a project that had remained outdated due to the significant impact of the railway underground works being the motive for our city.»
He added, «We all benefit and avoid repeating the mistakes that occurred in other places, imposing an exclusive punitive model. Common sense prevailed, adapting the regulations, which we propose as irrevocable, making it good news for Lorquinos and Lorca.»
The mayor recalled that this request was also supported by the municipal plenary, through a motion presented by the popular municipal group and supported by Vox, urging the ministry to engage in the accusations made by the local council. «We are pleased to verify that Lorca Harca has listened and that our reality has been taken into account, showing that our requests were initially supported by technical rigor and had solid and clear vision for the general interest of all porch. The current urban reality negatively impacting the mobility of thousands of Lorquinos, as Lorca needs solutions, is an institutional example that institutional dialogue and defense of our requests have positive outcomes,» he said.
«The approved change enhances the initial planning, enabling the application of European funds if they are truly useful and viable. Now, we can build a sustainable mobility infrastructure, such as bicycle lanes, that adapt to the real Lorca, the current LORCA, immersed in an unprecedented urban transformation process, which has no precedent in urban transformation processes.»
The mayor detailed that the new proposal is based on technical and common sense criteria because «it’s not about removing the bicycle lanes; it’s about relocating the sections affected by the works to other areas where their implementation is viable, safe, and efficient. In fact, due to this change, we add 870 more meters to the municipality.»
He emphasized that Lorca has been committed to sustainable mobility for years. «Since 2009, when the first bicycle lane was being built in La Torrecilla, we’ve managed to develop a network of over 50 kilometers connecting the city with significant points like Casalla. This modification allows us to extend that network between the urban area and our distance, addressing the real need of thousands of residents commuting to the city center daily.»
Furthermore, Fulgencio Gil stressed that the proposal had the technical approval of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (PMU) in Lorca and its objective was clear, «ensuring that the ZBE implementation doesn’t lead to traffic collapse, especially at a time when we’re already supporting reductions, diversions, and loss of parking spaces.»
He concluded by emphasizing that «we are talking about the most environmentally friendly, connected, and future-ready. With the ministry’s estimation of these accusations, we can continue moving in this direction without compromising the quality of their lives.»