New regulation for e-scooters in Spain

The rise of electric scooters in Barcelona, forced the City Council to approve a local legislation for e-scooters in 2017. Now, the Spanish Traffic Directorate (DGT) has published a directive which will be a provisional regulation for electric scooters and for what we call personal mobility vehicles (PMV).

Main points of the regulation:

• Legal PMV can only be propelled by electric motors and can only reach speeds of between 6 and 25 kph.
• PMV with a seat will be only legal if they have an automatic balance system.
• Helmet will be compulsory or not depending on the local regulation.
• Only one person can use the vehicle. No passengers are allowed.
• The use of phones and headphones is banned.
• PMVs cannot be used in pedestrianised areas or on pavements (unless the local legislation allows it).
• Ligths and reflective clothing is compulsory at night.
• This regulation does not effect nor electric bicycles neither mobility scooters (mopeds), but some nonlegal PMV will be regulated as a mobility scooters.

Additional regulation in Barcelona:

• Minimum age of 16
• Helmet and bell are required on heavy e-scooters  (more than 25 kg).
• Can be used in bicycle lanes.
• Can be used in parks at 10 kph.
• Light e-scooters can be used in pedestrian streets.
• Can be only used in 30 kph roads. Not sure whether with the new Spanish regulation now can be used in any street. 

More information:

• Press Relase 2019/12/04 [ES]
• Directive 2019/12/03 (PDF) [ES]

Why a central median bike lane is not a good idea

In Barcelona, several new two-way bike lanes have been constructed in the central median of avenues. Usually, this design is used in wide two-way streets (at least 20 m wide) with several lanes for cars (or for buses).  It's a design that some designers say that is safe for bicycle and car interaction, easy to implement and does not affect much car mobility, but is it really convenient for bikes?

Design from the bike lane design guide of Barcelona

Junctions and crossings

The biggest problem of this design solution are junctions and how to manage all the possible turns that each mean of transport might legally do. The worst case scenario may occur when two two-way bike lanes cross each other and at least one of them is a central one.

The central median two-way bike lane is far away from the sidewalks and the perpendicular streets. How does a cyclist turn left or right? There is usually not enough space for the cyclist to wait for the green light and turn. How do cyclists start or end their trips? How do they go to the sidewalk? Do they dismount? Do they have bicycle crossings next tot the pedestrian crossings? Are they allowed to use the car lanes? Will they used them or will the cycle on the sidewalk?