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Date Published: 29/12/2023

Andalucia bans electric scooters from all public transport

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Scooters won’t be allowed on any buses or metros in Andalucia from January 1

Andalucia bans electric scooters from all public transport

When personal mobility vehicles skyrocketed in popularity across Spain a few years ago, they seemed to be the answer to our sustainable transport prayers: here was an environmentally friendly way to get about that was suitable for all ages, and a bit of fun to boot.

But fast-forward to today and the tide of opinion is turning, as accidents involving electric scooters soar and various malfunctions leading to fires and small explosions have put countless members of the public at risk.

Following several battery fires on public transport throughout Spain, the authorities In Andalucia have issued a blanket ban on electric scooters on all buses and metro lines from January 1.

This restriction is similar to what has been implemented in many other parts of Spain and Europe. However, in Andalucia, the Department of Development has stressed that it is a temporary measure and will be reviewed if the risks subside.

The decision is as a direct consequence of the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT)’s rule which stipulates that, as of January 21, only electric scooters issued with a safety certificate will be allowed to be sold. However, these safety guarantees will not apply to scooters that are already on the road, which will still be permitted to circulate freely until 2027.

It seems likely, then, that the Andalucian government could enforce the public transport ban until all electric scooters carry a safety cert.

Of course, Andalucia isn’t the only region to apply restrictions to personal mobility vehicles.

Since December 12, Renfe has prohibited electric scooters on all its passenger trains, a decision that has also been extended to the Bay of Cádiz Tram (Trambahía).

Likewise, Madrid, the metropolitan area of Barcelona and Mallorca have applied the same measure on all public transport, while Valencia has applied it to railway services (suburban, metro and tram).

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Image: Pixabay

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