Mission Statement: to assist the integration of foreign residents living in Spain
By Marc Menendez-Roche •
Updated: 13 Nov 2024 • 9:54 • 2 minutes read
Marbella is on a mission to rein in the two-wheeled terrors of the streets as it gears up to launch a brand-new registry for electric scooters in 2025. City Council has given its final approval to an ordinance that will put e-scooter riders under the spotlight making it crystal clear that riding around on the roads is no ride in the park.
What’s the big deal about scooters?
The council’s keen to get a grip on Marbella’s rapidly growing ‘VMP’ (Personal Mobility Vehicles) fleet, with Transport Councillor Félix Romero announcing plans to create a database detailing each scooter’s make, model, serial number, owner, insurance info, and policy number. All in the name of safety, they say and they’re not taking shortcuts.
Romero, speaking at the launch of a new safety awareness campaign tied to the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, revealed that this registry is just one part of a broader plan to keep the city’s streets safe. “Marbella is a top tourist spot, and mobility is vital here. This campaign is about ensuring that citizens know the basic rules,” he said, flanked by Transport Director Baldomero León and PAT (Association for Traffic Accident Prevention) delegate Ketty Morilla.
Scooter rules: No monkey business.
In February, Marbella approved a rulebook that bans scooting along pedestrian areas and pavements, listening to music or using mobiles while riding, carrying passengers, and riding under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Many scooter users were utterly appalled by the new rules, as they felt they infringed on their personal freedoms and denied them the fundamental right to mount pavements, drink, and listen to music while operating a vehicle uninsured. I m doing it for the planet! they shouted. However, the Council remained firm.
As part of the changes, riders will also be required to wear reflective clothing, helmets, protective gear, and lights and stay within a 20 km/h speed limit.
But Romero hinted that this was just the beginning: “We’ll be meeting with rental companies on December 4 to get a handle on the number of scooters in town. While it’s impossible to track private owners for now, they’ll be included in the registry too.”
Insured and aged up riding a scooter on the roads is no child’s play.
Morilla praises the new ordinance as one of the few of its kind in Spain, noting it’s attracting the attention of other cities eager to draft similar rules. “The registry will hold scooter users accountable, and with mandatory civil liability insurance, victims of accidents will be covered. Setting the minimum age at 16 reinforces that these scooters aren’t toys riders need to understand the risks,” she added.
Awareness campaign Look out, scoot safe.
Throughout the week, a banner will hang on the Council’s front, reminding locals and tourists of the rules. Signage across Marbella will also inform riders of penalties for infractions, ensuring everyone’s clued up before they hit the road.
It’s safe to say Marbella’s keeping one wheel on the pulse steering towards a safer, more organised future for all.
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Written by
Marc Menendez-Roche
Marc is a writer, teacher, and language enthusiast with a passion for making complex topics simple and accessible.
With a background in business and legal communication and an interest in educational neuroscience, Marc has spent over a decade teaching and writing.
Now, as part of the team at Euro Weekly News, Marc enjoys diving into entertaining topics and stories that matter to the community.
When he’s not writing, Marc loves practising martial arts, playing football, cooking up a storm in the kitchen, or spending quality time with friends and family, but above all, Marc enjoys spending time with his son, Macson.
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