Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, a district in northwest Barcelona, has the highest concentration of educational centres in Europe, with up to 73 schools and nearly 40,000 enrolled students, excluding university level, according to municipal documentation.
Despite this density, the district records the lowest rate of active school travel in the city: just 42% of journeys to school are made on foot or by bicycle, data from the Barcelona Public Health Agency (ASPB) shows. This is less than half the 84% active mobility rate seen in Sant Andreu, the top-performing district.
School mobility shaped by geography and access
The low walking and cycling rate is influenced by several factors. Many students attending schools in Sarrià-Sant Gervasi do not live nearby, contributing to daily influxes of traffic during school hours. Additionally, the district’s steep terrain and underdeveloped cycling infrastructure make non-motorised travel more difficult.
A 2011 white paper on school mobility and accessibility in the district, published by the local district government and available via Barcelona City Council’s open-access repository BCNROC, identified long-standing challenges in adapting transport networks to school flows.
Residents demand sustainable alternatives
“We need safer routes and better support for walking and cycling, especially on hilly streets,”
School mobility groups and local residents have long called for improvements to reduce car dependency. A 2024 participatory budgeting initiative in the district saw 866 votes for a project to improve the school environment at 10 educational centres, reflecting community priorities.
According to the 2023–2024 school year planning report from the Consorci d’Educació de Barcelona, enrolment and catchment areas continue to be monitored closely, with adjustments proposed for the 2024–2025 academic year to manage demand and accessibility.
For parents and students, the practical challenge remains: how to navigate a district packed with schools but lacking in infrastructure to support sustainable, active commutes.
Primary sources: Districte 5. Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, Ajuntament de Barcelona, bcnroc.ajuntament.barcelona.cat, ajuntament.barcelona.cat. Reported by 20minutos.es, Consorci d'Educació de Barcelona. Planificació, serveiseducatius.xtec.cat, costaillobera.cat, ASPB, 20 Minutos Barcelona.
