From February 1, anyone that rides an electric scooter on the pavement in Barcelona or rides without a helmet could face a fine of up to €500.
This is according to a new ordinance that is being brought in as part of a crackdown on antisocial behaviour linked to a rapid rise in e-scooter use.
The ordinance also stipulates that the driver of an e-scooter could also be fined €500 if he travels at more than 25 kilometres an hour, with the argument that in such cases the e-scooter should be classed as a category L vehicle instead and subject to motorcycle rules.
According to official data from the local council, over the past few years the number of people using e-scooters in Barcelona has risen four times faster than those choosing to travel by bicycle.
The council estimates that e-scooters account for about 44,000 journeys a day. Women make up 31% of e-scooter riders, according to the data.
These latest restrictions on e-scooters comes less than two years after they were banned from public transport after one caught fire on a train in 2023. There have also been attempts to crack down on Segway tours, following complaints from residents.
Speaking about the new ordinance, Adrià Gomila, Barcelona’s Director of Mobility Services, said: “These measures are designed to bring about a change of behaviour on the part of some users, improve safety and be of collective benefit.”
According to a recent study by the Royal Automobile Club of Catalonia, 61% of electric scooter riders in Barcelona admit to running red lights, while 48% admit to riding in the wrong direction or on pavements.
The survey also revealed that 83% of electric scooter riders don’t have insurance coverage and 20% are unfamiliar with traffic regulations.
The new ordinance also addresses the persistent problem of motorcycle being parked on Barcelona’s pavements, saying that it is “preferable” for them to be parked on the road. However, given the shortage of official road-side parking for motorcycles, the ordinance stops short of legislating for this.
Fines will also be incurred if two or more people are riding on an electric scooter, if the electric scooter doesn’t lights on either the front or the rear or if someone below the age of 16 is riding an electric scooter.
