Currently, only dogs weighing less than 8 kilos are permitted on Metro Bilbao. Those exceeding this weight limit must travel in private vehicles or other public transport. To address this, a joint amendment, spearheaded by the city council's governing team and Elkarrekin Bilbao with support from EH Bildu, aims to facilitate access for larger dogs.

Ana Viñals, spokesperson for the purple party, stated that this has been "a long-standing demand" with "no progress in ten years." She emphasized that "one in three Bilbao residents owns a dog, and many are elderly individuals for whom dogs serve an important companionship role".

Consequently, access to the lines managed by Metro Bilbao is crucial for their mobility. Furthermore, it is considered time to "update the regulations" for this public transport, which differs from others like Line 3 and the tram, managed by EuskoTren, or the Artxanda Funicular.

Angélica Orozco, a councilwoman from EH Bildu, indicated that allowing dogs over 8 kilos on the metro would reduce reliance on private transport. Both Viñals and Orozco stressed the need for clear regulations for dogs on trains, including leash use, time restrictions, and limitations during major events.

The Bilbao City Council is part of the Consorcio de Transportes de Bizkaia. Nora Abete, Deputy Mayor and Councilor for Mobility and Sustainability, advocates for a regulation that is "clear, fair, and responsible," consistently seeking "a balance between rights and obligations." She also highlighted the need to consider people's needs, such as "allergies or fear" of dogs, and how to integrate them into the metro system.

In larger cities like Madrid and Barcelona, large dogs are already permitted. Abete emphasized that this measure will be "adapted to Bilbao's social reality," where dogs are increasingly an integral part of residents' daily lives.