After a key bike lane was removed from a part of the city of Elche cyclists took direct action and, for a few hours at least, reclaimed the streets.
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00:00 After a key bicycle lane was removed from a part of the city of Elche, these cyclists
00:07 took direct action and for a few hours at least reclaimed the streets.
00:11 The new local government in Valencia region, which is now made up of the Conservative Party
00:16 and the far-right Vox Party, made the controversial decision to allow vehicles more space on Elche's
00:22 roads.
00:23 But it turns out the protest was in vain and the removal looks permanent.
00:28 Two months later, the one kilometre long bicycle lane has now been scrapped and the confidence
00:33 some bike riders feel when riding the main road has gone too.
00:45 The authorities insist that they're not against the bike lanes but that some are wrongly placed,
00:50 which makes them dangerous as they come into conflict with other traffic on the roads.
00:54 And other city residents agree.
01:12 But keeping streets safe for cycling and allowing vehicles space may not be the only sticking
01:16 point.
01:18 The lanes were financed as part of a larger EU project to develop low-emission zones in
01:22 the city and according to one former mobility councillor, the authorities might need to
01:27 give the money back now.
01:44 The local authorities have not yet commented on the funding issue but they have announced
01:48 a plan to build an underground car park with 1,500 spaces in the city centre.
01:54 .
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