Benidorm to ban two-seat scooters after 1,100 fines

Benidorm City Council is preparing to ban multi-occupant mobility scooters, targeting the two-seater models frequently rented by tourists along the Levante Beach promenade. The move follows a sharp increase in urban road accidents involving personal mobility vehicles.

Personal mobility vehicles, including e-scooters, self-propelled chairs, and mobility scooters, accounted for 25% of all urban road accidents in the city. Local police have already issued more than 1,100 fines for related violations so far in 2026.

Mobility councillor Francis Muñoz stated that the ban aims to stop vehicles designed for multiple passengers from being used as a leisure activity or tourist transport alternative. He said the measure is intended to ensure road safety on pavements and in pedestrian areas.

Under current rules, single-occupant scooters are restricted to individuals over 65 or those with a documented disability. The age limit was lowered from 55 to 65 in 2024. Scooters are strictly banned from pavements and pedestrian zones unless the rider is actively accessing a building.

Violations of these current rules can result in fines of up to €500. Police may immediately impound vehicles found in restricted areas or rented without a valid medical reason.

The draft text for the new ban is entering a mandatory 30-day public consultation period. There is no set start date for the ban yet, as the council has not confirmed a definitive blacklist of banned models or the specific fines for breaking the new rules. Officials expect the proposal to receive final approval, noting that an earlier 15-day consultation received zero objections.

Nick Birko-Dolder, a former policy advisor at Disability Rights UK, said the city should assess the proposal against actual mobility needs and the evidence of risk. He warned that turning concerns over misuse into suspicion of everyone who needs assistance could be problematic.

Birko-Dolder added that the council needs to demonstrate why a blanket restriction on multi-seat models is necessary. He noted that a mobility scooter can be the difference between participating in a holiday and spending it confined to a hotel.

Reactions from locals and tourists have been mixed. On TikTok, user @montserrat.lopez861 supported the change, saying people can get run over if they are not careful. User @evilways72 called the scooters a hazard, noting that some tourists use them while under the influence of alcohol.

User @maria12oc called the ban absurd, arguing that two-seater models are often rented by older couples and that the danger comes from the speeds at which all scooters travel. On Instagram, @larivigil agreed the ban was necessary for those who do not need the vehicles but called them necessary for the elderly. User @benidorm.now asked what would happen to couples who rely on the two-seater models to get around together.