One in four e-scooter riders in Barcelona jump red lights or don’t respect pedestrian crossings, according to the latest RACC mobility barometer. The study, based on 800 user surveys and 4,330 observations, shows 26% of riders commit these violations. Meanwhile, 22% of users admit getting fined this year, up from 18% in 2024, with speeding accounting for 24% of tickets.
E-scooter use has dropped slightly since the post-pandemic boom. The typical user profile shows 71% are young people aged 18-35, making an average 2.2 trips daily. However, rule-breaking remains common: 8% ride on pavements, 13% go against traffic, and 11% admit their scooters are modified to exceed legal speed limits.
Some 57% confess to jumping red lights when no other vehicles are around, whilst 41% ride the wrong way or on pavements “to go faster”. Worryingly, 30% of surveyed riders didn’t even know pavement riding is banned. The February traffic ordinance requiring helmets has worked though: helmet use jumped from 40.4% last year to 91% now.
However, most riders still ignore 10km/h speed limits on bike lanes and shared pedestrian areas. In 2024, Barcelona recorded 606 accidents involving e-scooters, representing 8% of all city accidents, down 20% from 2023. Two people died in scooter-related incidents last year, whilst this year has seen no fatalities so far.
Looking ahead, 90% of users don’t know they’ll need compulsory civil liability insurance from 2026. Another 70% are unaware they’ll need to register scooters with the DGT and get identification plates. RACC president Josep Mateu believes the insurance requirement won’t kill scooter use, depending on premium prices. Currently, fewer than one in ten users has civil liability cover.
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