The Santa Cruz Council has approved the new Mobility and Road Safety ordinance, which will now have to go on public display for at least 30 days, before its final approval, publication in the BOC, and then implementation, but it includes big changes for the rules regarding electric scooters.
The regulation of the use of Personal Mobility Vehicles (VMP) such as scooters, which are the most contentious vehicles currently in use, will be applicable for privately owned scooters, companies that rent them, and guided tours on them.
Among the new rules that it introduces, it ratifies the prohibition of the use of these vehicles on pavements and in pedestrianized areas, where riders will be obliged to get off their scooter and walk with them.
They will also be prohibited to ride them across pedestrian crossings where, again they must dismount and walk, in the same way as rules for bicycles, all users will be obliged to wear a helmet and must be aged 16 or over.
Children under 16 may only use scooters in places closed to traffic and under the responsibility of their parents or guardians.
Violation of any of these guidelines will be considered a very serious infraction, with fines ranging from 1,500 to 3,000 euros, and leaving a scooter badly parked is considered a minor infraction, with fines of up to 750 euros.
This means, in general, electric scooters will not be allowed to be ridden on pavements, pedestrian walkways, pedestrianized streets, squares and plazas, in parks, seafront walks, and any other area that pedestrians have priority and where this prohibition is specifically marked.
They will have the same rules and laws as the use of bicycles, however, in the absence of a cycle lane, they may not circulate on any road where the speed limit is more than 30km/h.
RULE FOR COMPANIES RENTING SCOOTERS:
Companies are forced to have an app that guarantees real-time information on the location of all the vehicles they own, in addition to the necessary software to prevent the termination of the lease if it is parked outside the authorized spaces.
Also, to avoid them being ridden on pavements and in pedestrian areas, the ordinance provides for the creation of a ‘bicycle and VMP registry’. In the case of privately owned scooters, registration would be voluntary, while in the case of companies it would be mandatory.
Regarding the use of scooters for tourist or leisure activities, it is regulated that they cannot circulate in groups of more than two people and the guide "must maintain a distance between the different groups of more than 50 metres".
It is hoped that the new rules will come into effect in February and will be extended to the rest of the island.
