The new municipal ordinance being prepared by the Bilbao City Council to regulate terraces has not convinced the Federation of Neighborhood Associations (FAVB). The organization has voiced its concerns, believing the text fails to resolve public space coexistence problems.
The occupation of public space opens to debate, bringing to the table the fragile coexistence between residents, leisure, and hospitality.
According to the FAVB, the debate once again highlights the delicate relationship between economic activity and tranquility, emphasizing the need to prioritize the right to rest and mobility. The federation argues that the regulation lacks proportionality, applying the same criteria across the entire city without considering the vastly different urban realities between areas like Abando, Marzana, or the Casco Viejo and neighborhoods such as San Ignacio or Otxarkoaga.
Among the most controversial points, the federation highlights the detriment of installing terraces next to building facades. It believes this measure could hinder pedestrian traffic, especially for people with visual impairments, in addition to extending economic activity to spaces previously free. The FAVB also notes the absence of criteria limiting occupation by street sections, which prevents setting maximum capacities and controlling both the concentration of people and increased noise.
The neighborhood movement hopes that the Bilbao City Council will introduce changes during the ordinance's processing. To this end, they have announced that they will present amendments aimed at moving towards an urban model that reconciles hospitality activity with the quality of life for Bilbao residents.
