Benidorm Town Council has unanimously approved the initial modification of Municipal Mobility Ordinance Number 1 to strengthen road safety and environmental sustainability. The new rules specifically address personal mobility vehicles (VMPs) and self-propelled mobility scooters, introducing an explicit ban on vehicles built to carry more than one person.
The measure comes as personal mobility vehicles are involved in 25% of urban accidents within the town. These scooters are particularly popular among older British tourists, who frequently use them as their preferred mode of transport.
Mobility Councillor Francis Muñoz explained that the continuous evolution of urban transport and the need to adapt local rules made a complete review necessary. The new text entirely replaces the original ordinance and its subsequent partial amendments, unifying all changes into a single administrative decision.
The updated ordinance rests on three main pillars. First, it adapts local rules to national traffic and road safety regulations, specifically the Central Government’s Royal Decree 518/2026 of 24th June regarding the protection of vulnerable road users. Second, it focuses on road safety and environmental sustainability by introducing measures to calm traffic, protect vulnerable individuals, and reduce high accident rates linked to emerging mobility. Third, Title IX has been amended to regulate self-propelled chairs, explicitly banning multi-person scooters to ensure safety on pavements and pedestrian zones.
Muñoz thanked municipal technicians and the Local Police for their collaboration in adapting the rules to current city needs. Following this initial approval, the text will undergo a 30 business day public consultation period before final approval and implementation. Pavement use for these vehicles remains restricted to people over 55 or those with justified reduced mobility due to physical disability or illness.
During the debate, the PSOE welcomed the inclusion of national legislation, while the PP noted that local rules in Benidorm remain even more restrictive than national guidelines. Vox raised concerns regarding the Low Emission Zone (ZBE) maintained in the ordinance, arguing it hurts local commerce, a claim denied by the PP.
In other business, the council unanimously approved an updated cooperation agreement for sewage and wastewater treatment infrastructure involving the Generalitat Valenciana, Epsar, and the councils of Villajoyosa, Finestrat, and Benidorm. Water Cycle Councillor José Ramón González de Zárate confirmed the agreement involves an investment of 18 million euro, with over 1.8 million euro allocated to renovating the Cruz Roja I pumping station and impulse line in Benidorm. The updated agreement removes the municipality of Orxeta, where no actions were planned, without altering investment figures.
Finally, the council unanimously authorised three municipal employees to undertake secondary public sector roles as university lecturers, and established 15th and 16th November 2027 as local holidays for the Festes Majors Patronals.
