America’s Cup Sailing – What are the restrictions and how will they affect you?

the America’s Cup It’s already here and a fan zone is being built on Barcelona’s Bogatell beach and a few weeks ago a giant sign was put up in the middle of Barceloneta beach with a countdown to the start of the contest between August 22nd and October 27thThe city will host the world’s most important sailing competition and this will affect the daily lives of residents, who will have to deal with traffic jams, crowds and more inconvenience.

The competition centre occupies four areas of the city, all very close to the Barceloneta area: Port Vell, where the teams’ bases will be installed, the Villa del Mar area and the area to follow the regattas; the new Olympic Port and the Mall de Fusta, where there will be Racing Villagea leisure area where you can also follow the regattas; and finally the seafront, which will have the regatta field in front of it. Specifically, in front of the beaches of San Sebastia, Sant Miquel, Barceloneta, Somorrostro and Bogatell. In addition, a few giant screens will be installed on the city’s seafront, between Plaça de les Drassanes and Bogatell beach, to follow the competition.

Although the races will mostly be on Wednesdays, Fridays and weekends, the activity will be daily as the race village will be open daily between 12.00 and 22.00, and the schedule will be extended to 23.00 on Fridays and Saturdays. Finally, please note that the competition days can change due to wind or weather conditions, so there may be trials on any day of the week.

Traffic restrictions

Authorities have not set specific traffic restrictions, but have warned that access to any of the above areas may be restricted during the event, depending on the number of people, with the exception of motorbikes, which may always enter and exit. At the same time, they guarantee access to the area for anyone travelling on foot, by public transport or by bicycle.

Although the traffic restrictions will gradually adapt to the daily flow of spectators, there will be a series of urban modifications that will affect traffic: new bus lines will be installed on Rambla de Prim, specifically between Plaça de Levante and Santander Street; and on Carrer de Trelawny, between Passeig Maritim and Carrer del Doctor Iguadir. Discretionary bus areas will also be created on and around Paseo de Joan de Borbó. World Trade CenterFinally, the taxi waiting area around the Villa Hotel will be expanded.

Residents of Barceloneta and the rest of the affected areas will have to be certified to drive a private car without restrictions.

Credits for residents and workers

The Accreditation Office that coordinates the Ciutat Vella area, the municipal company B:SM and the Port of Barcelona, ​​has issued 10,998 accreditation to people who live in Barceloneta, who work there or who have a parking space there.

There are two types of accreditation: the one that allows you to drive and park, which is intended for people who have a car and parking spaces in the area; and the one for circulation and “opening”, for people who live or work in La Barceloneta, but do not have a parking space there. In this case, beneficiaries will be able to access the restricted areas, but they will have to leave them. The accreditation must be visible in the car and the accreditation that includes parking must be requested in person.

Maximum Impact Days

Although the authorities did not want to announce a specific timetable for the restrictions and that they will depend on the daily flow of the public in the area, there are some important days in the competition that can serve as a guide:

• Wednesdays, Fridays and weekends are regatta days.
• On October 27, 28, 29, 2, 4, 5 and 6, the races will be held to determine the finalist.
• On October 10th there is the opening ceremony.
• On October 16, 18 and 21, the final regattas will take place.

Parking changes

The City Council has announced that it will convert the 80 parking spaces normally reserved for cars in the Barceloneta Blue Zone into 370 new parking spaces for motorcycles. The aim is to remove motorcycles from the sidewalks to make walking easier. Two dedicated parking spaces for motorcycles and scooters will be created in the Nova Bocana area and in Plaça de Martí Taradell, as well as extending the existing parking space in Plaça de Pau Vila. In addition, all vehicles will be banned from parking on the sidewalks of Carrer del Gas, Passeig Marítim and Passeig de Joan de Borbó.

On the other hand, two large car parks will be activated, B:SM Rius i Taulet in Plaça d’Espanya, in front of the fair, which will have 1,258 spaces; and a new one in the Forum with 1,200 spaces. The Forum car park will be active on 7, 8, 14, 15, 28 and 29 September, and 5, 6, 12, 13, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 26 and 27 October.

In addition, there will be a shuttle bus service to transport users from the parking lots to the competition area. The first, which will run on the route between the exhibition and Plaça del Pla de Palau, will operate every competition day between 11.30 and 18.30, with a frequency of fifteen minutes. The second will connect the Forum to Bogatell Beach on the days when the parking lot is active at the same time but with a frequency of ten minutes.

Parking spaces for bicycles and more individual mobility vehicles, such as electric scooters, will also be installed. A hundred spaces will be available throughout the America’s Cup in Plaza del Mar, around the Biomedical Research Center, around the Olympic Port and near Bogatell Beach.

Public transport modifications

Faced with the potential collapse of some public transport services in the city, the battalion decided to reinforce them. Thus, Barcelona Metropolitan Transport It will enhance the service of metro line L4. The closest stations to reach the affected area are Barceloneta/Ciutadella/Vila Olimpica, Bogatell and Lacuna on line L4, Drassanes on line L3 and Marina on line L1.

The main bus lines that reach the area will also be reinforced: D20, H16, V15, V19, V21, V23, V25, V27 and 47. On the other hand, bus lines H12, H14, V21, V27, V31, D20, numbers 33, 47, 59 and 136 may have a longer waiting time than usual because they pass close to the area and may experience delays.

Effects on other events

Hosting the America’s Cup would prevent the natural development of other events in the city. For example, 42 Catalan Book Week 2024 will change the location and dates exceptionally. It will be on the Paseo de Lluís Companys, on behalf of the Moll de la Fusta, from September 20 to 29, coinciding with the Festes de la Mercè.