# Ourense's Ghost Bike Fleet: 1.2 Million Euro Project Stalled Without Operator City officials purchased 330 electric bicycles but lack the administrative framework to launch operations. - **Source:** [El Confidencial – España](https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana) - **Published:** 2026-11-11 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/5bef7b68-26db-4561-aed1-a857d6ef80b2 ## Idle Fleet in Ourense Ourense has installed charging stations across the city, yet 330 electric bicycles purchased from Nextbike remain unused. Despite the project being launched last spring, the units are currently stored in undisclosed locations. The local government has failed to provide details regarding the maintenance or the current condition of the battery packs. ## Financial and Project Scope The OU-Pe project represents a total investment of 1,258,400 euros, including 279,286 euros from European Next Generation funds. The contract covers 330 bicycles with 30-kilometer range and 35 charging stations. While the hardware was delivered following a procurement process, the city lacks the necessary ordinance to actually initiate the public service. ## Administrative Bottleneck Explained The project stalled because the city prioritized hardware procurement over operational planning. Mayor Gonzalo Pérez Jácome admitted the system requires a regulatory ordinance before a management contract can be tendered. Currently, the draft ordinance is undergoing corrections by the municipal intervention department, delaying the service launch by at least six months. ## Procurement Process Irregularities The city council awarded the contract to Nextbike in July 2025, despite it being the most expensive of three submitted bids. The selection process prioritized technical aspects like battery cycles and warranty periods over cost. This decision-making path contrasts with other Spanish cities that typically bundle supply and management into single contracts. ## Risk to European Funding The delay threatens the 279,286 euros in European subsidies, which required project justification by December 31, 2025. If the city cannot prove the bicycles are serving their intended public purpose, it may be forced to return the funds. Similar cases in other cities highlight the necessity of immediate communication with transport authorities. ## Comparison with Other Cities Vitoria-Gasteiz and Pamplona utilized integrated contracts to manage their bike-sharing systems, combining supply and maintenance. Pamplona, for instance, secured a long-term contract for 500 bicycles through 2036. Ourense’s decision to separate hardware procurement from operational management has created a vacuum of responsibility, leaving expensive assets idle for months on end. ## Historical Context of Service Ourense previously operated a conventional bike-sharing system starting in 2007, which was canceled in 2020 under the promise of a modern replacement. If the current six-month delay holds, the city will have endured over six years without a functional public bike service. This gap is particularly significant given the city's hilly terrain. ## Future Outlook and Deadlines With municipal elections scheduled for May 2027, the opposition warns that the system may not launch within the current mandate. The city must now finalize the ordinance, tender the management contract, and ensure the hardware remains viable. Failure to act quickly could result in both financial penalties and prolonged public service failure. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/galicia/2026-11-11/bicis-fantasma-jacome-ourense-millones-fecha_4462387/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._