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Madrid Makes EMT Buses and Bicimad Free for 48 Hours on January 8–9

City officials cast the 48-hour gratuity as a tool to promote sustainable travel, enabling operational testing under higher demand.

Overview

  • The free period runs from 00:00 on Thursday, January 8, to 23:59 on Friday, January 9, with all EMT lines free except the Airport Express.
  • Bicimad e-bike trips of up to 30 minutes are free during the activation, marking the system’s sixth coordinated participation.
  • All riders must validate their transport pass, and drivers will issue a free single ticket to passengers without a card.
  • The measure supports the post-holiday return to routine and encourages a shift away from private cars toward public transport and cycling.
  • Madrid has used short fare-free activations since 2021 to assess demand; Bicimad now spans 634 stations with 7,782 bikes and logged over 13.63 million uses in 2025, while EMT recorded a 1.94 million rider peak on Black Friday 2025.