A tough new ordinance targeting the misuse of electric scooters in Badalona has resulted in more than 400 fines and the confiscation of nearly 100 vehicles within its first three months, according to figures from the city council. The crackdown, a key policy of Mayor Xavier García Albiol‘s government, aims to curb incivility and improve public safety in the coastal city just north of Barcelona.

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The regulations for Personal Mobility Vehicles (PMVs), which came into full effect late last year, were designed to address mounting conflicts between scooter riders and pedestrians, particularly in high-traffic areas. One of the critical zones targeted by the new rules is the city’s central Rambla, where residents had long complained about vehicles travelling at unsafe speeds.

A Hardline Stance on Scooter Misconduct

To publicise the changes, the Badalona city council launched a high-impact communication campaign with the blunt slogan, “Si haces el bestia, te quedas sin patinete” (If you act like a beast, you’ll lose your scooter). This direct messaging underlined the administration’s zero-tolerance approach, considered one of the strictest in the Barcelona metropolitan area.

Under the new rules, fines can reach as high as €600. More significantly, the Guardia Urbana (local police) now have the authority to confiscate a scooter on the spot for two specific serious infractions: riding without mandatory insurance or using a vehicle with a modified motor to illegally increase its speed. The city had previously warned of this in its official announcements, stating its intention to regulate PMV use with a firm hand.

Other key regulations stipulated in the ordinance include:

  • A minimum user age of 15 years.
  • The mandatory use of an approved helmet.
  • A ban on riding on pavements, in green areas, and on pedestrianised streets.
  • A requirement to park exclusively in designated spaces, such as those reserved for bicycles.

Efforts to Improve Coexistence

Third Deputy Mayor Rosa del Amo has defended the policy, insisting that its primary goal is not financial. She stated that the measure aims to “improve coexistence and facilitate the identification of delinquents who use scooters to commit thefts.” This positions the ordinance as part of a broader public safety strategy. It is also a recurring theme in Mayor Albiol’s administration, which has also made headlines for its decision to ban new tourist flats.

However, the city’s opposition parties-including PSC, ERC, Comuns, and Guanyem-remain unconvinced. They have criticised the government’s celebration of the initial figures as “propaganda” and a “smokescreen.” According to a report from Metrópoli Abierta, opposition groups argue that the administration has failed to provide comparative data that would demonstrate a genuine change in the city’s mobility patterns or a reduction in scooter-related incidents.

The debate in Badalona reflects a wider challenge across Catalan municipalities: balancing the convenience of new mobility options with public order. In the Catalan capital, a new coexistence ordinance has also drawn protests from groups who feel it unfairly criminalises certain behaviours. As Badalona’s government continues its crackdown, residents and political opponents will be watching closely to see if the fines and confiscations translate into a safer and more orderly urban environment.