Seville is preparing to introduce some of its toughest restrictions yet on electric scooters after new figures revealed the scale of injuries linked to their use in the city.
Doctors at the Virgen del Rocio University Hospital have treated more than 3,100 people for e-scooter accidents since 2012, with 850 cases in 2024 alone, prompting the city council to act.
On Friday, Sevilla’s local government approved the initial draft of a revised Municipal Traffic Ordinance, aimed at reducing accidents involving personal mobility vehicles.
A 30-day public consultation period will open next week, meaning the final version could be approved by February 2026.
City officials insist the goal is not to ban scooters but to bring order to a mode of transport that has grown rapidly with little oversight.
What will change under the new rules
The proposed reform introduces tougher requirements for riders and clearer penalties for violations.
Anyone using an electric scooter in Seville would be required to:
- Take out civil liability insurance
- Hold a circulation certificate
- Be registered with the DGT (Spain’s traffic authority)
- Wear a helmet and a reflective vest at all times
- Avoid using mobile phones or headphones while riding
The minimum age remains 15, a condition requested by the Local Police, who argue it aligns with the age allowed for riding a moped.
Scooters will continue to be banned from pavements, pedestrian zones and urban tunnels, and carrying passengers will remain prohibited.
Parking on pavements or attaching scooters to street furniture, trees or traffic signs will also be forbidden, with parking limited to designated areas only.
On cycle lanes, scooters will be allowed only if their power does not exceed 250 watts, with a maximum speed of 15 km/h, reduced to 10 km/h on shared routes with pedestrians.
Fines up to €500
The revised ordinance significantly increases penalties, particularly for the most serious offences:
- Minor offences: €50 – €100
- Serious offences: €101 – €200
- Very serious offences: €201 – €500
The highest fines apply to scooters that have been modified or tampered with to exceed technical limits.
Riding without a helmet or reflective vest, ignoring the age limit, or using overpowered scooters on cycle lanes would also count as serious offences.
Scooters may be immobilised under existing towing regulations.
The new rules were drafted following a public consultation process that included consumer groups, road safety organisations, cycling associations and input from Sevilla’s Local Police.
If approved early next year, the changes would place Sevilla among the Spanish cities with the strictest controls on e-scooters.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
