Comments Off on Spain tightens rules for e-scooters further
Source:Euro NewsImage source: Maria Lupan, Unsplash
The Spanish government has approved a reform to the country’s General Traffic Regulations which outlines new restrictions around the use of e-scooters and other personal mobility vehicles, including a minimum rider age of 15.
The reforms come as part of a broader road safety package, and follows the introduction of new safety measures introduced in January 2026 which mandated registration and insurance for e-scooters. The road safety package, put forward by the Interior Ministry and the Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) aims to improve road safety for vulnerable users, including scooter riders, cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians.
The introduction of a minimum rider age is new to Spanish regulations. Other stipulations are compulsory helmet use nationwide, and the use of lights in poor visibility and at night, with reflective clothing or accessories also being mandatory. Violations may result in fines of €200.
Beyond e-scooters, the reform introduces new rules for motorcyclists, who will now have to wear protective gloves and closed footwear, while rules on overtaking cyclists are being tightened; drivers will be required to slow down and maintain a safe lateral distance.
The new regulations for e-scooters will come into force on 1 October, 2026.
UK industry bodies the Bicycle Association (BA) and the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) have together published a national guide to support police forces in urgently tackling the rapidly growing use of illegal, non-compliant, high-powered vehicles marketed as e-bikes.
BA and MCIA highlight that such vehicles are capable of moped and motorcycle-level performance, and are increasingly being used on public roads with no registration, licensing, insurance or safety checks. This rising trend is creating a parallel unregulated mobility market, presenting significant implications for public safety, policing, and for legitimate mobility businesses.
Steve Garidis, Executive Director of BA, said, “Reputable suppliers of road legal e-bikes go to considerable effort and expense to ensure that their e-bikes are compliant with UK legislation, and tested thoroughly to international standards. So it’s dismaying to see the strong safety record and public reputation of road legal e-bikes undermined by these illegal and unsafe vehicles.
“Government action is essential to address both the supply of and demand for these vehicles, primarily through reform of the responsibilities of online marketplaces and gig economy delivery platforms. Meanwhile, if we can provide any additional technical advice or support to police and other enforcement agencies, we stand ready to do so.”
Practical guidance
In the absence of a national and enforceable framework, BA and MCIA have produced the practical guidance to help enable police officers consistently identify illegal, non-compliant, high-powered devices. It also gives guidance on assessing electrically assisted pedal cycles (EAPCs), with a focus on borderline cases where there is uncertainty due to modifications, design or real-world use. Guidance includes:
How to identify whether the vehicle meets the legal definition of an EAPC
Whether the vehicle requires type approval (including Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval (MSVA) or Whole Vehicle Type Approval (WVTA)
How to identify whether the vehicle is being used within EAPC limits
Impact of illegal, non-compliant devices
Registrations of new L1 mopeds have fallen by more than 40% since 2022, coinciding with the rapid rise of illegal devices which are outside of regulatory frameworks
Police forces consistently report that illegal devices are a growing and complex enforcement challenge, with the absence of clear national guidance a significant and critical obstacle
Police forces have indicated that when illegal devices are targeted, operations have uncovered wider criminal activity including illegal working, exploitation, weapons and drug offences
Calls to action
BA and MCIA state that guidance is necessary, but not sufficient. They call on the Home Office and Department for Transport (DfT) to:
Publish clear national guidance as part of coordinated national action, and an enforceable cross-government framework for identifying, seizing and prosecuting non-compliant e-bikes this year.
Strengthen oversight of the supply chain and delivery platforms, including mandatory compliance checks for fleet operators and penalties for platforms that rely on riders using illegal vehicles. This could include a review of the legal framework governing the use of self-employed riders.
Commit to a ministerial meeting with industry, police representatives and delivery sector regulators by the end of this summer to agree on immediate next steps.
Stronger enforcement against online marketplaces and high street retailers selling non-compliant vehicles and modification kits, including measures to prevent reliance on weak disclaimers to bypass responsibility.
Tony Campbell, Chief Executive of the MCIA, said: “What we are seeing is the rapid emergence of an unregulated market in illegal, non-compliant and high-powered e-bikes. This creates real public safety risks, undermines legitimate manufacturers and retailers who invest in compliance, and places growing pressure on police forces.
“Officers have told us they need clearer, consistent guidance on identifying and dealing with these vehicles. The guide we have developed with the Bicycle Association is a useful step, but not a complete solution. National clarity, consistent policy and coordinated action across government – including stronger oversight of the supply chain and delivery sector – are urgently required. Police cannot solve this alone.”
A new bill has been introduced to the US Congress, which could introduce a nationwide, federal framework for the regulation of electric bikes and other micromobility devices, rather than the patchwork of state-level specific e-bike regulations.
Introduced by a bipartisan group of Representatives from both the Democratic and Republican parties, the bill has been dubbed the Safe Standards for Personal E-Bike and E-Moto Device Specifications Act, or the Safe SPEEDS Act. Its aim is to provide the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) with the authority to classify and regulate e-bikes and larger electric two-wheelers known as e-motos, as well as other similar devices. The CPSC would also be directed to create standardised labelling requirements and minimum rider age recommendations. Additionally, the CPSC would be required to research and publish data on crashes, injuries and fatalities involving these devices, which is currently inconsistent across jurisdictions.
E-bikes have seen a rapid rise across the US over the last few years, but there has been little change to federal standards since 2002, at which point they were considered as consumer products, rather than motor vehicles. This has resulted in a confusing and inconsistent scenario for consumers, and legislations which differ from state to state.
The news closely follows earlier reports that various US state-level lawmakers have been pushing for the application of license plates to e-bikes, in an effort to tackle problematic riding behaviour, though critics have stated that such a move may hamper efforts to move transportation to more sustainable options than cars.
The Safe SPEEDS act has been vocally support from a variety of industry and safety groups such as PeopleForBikes and the National Bicycle Dealers Association, with concerns about higher-speed vehicles being marketed alongside e-bikes to the fore. Jenn Dice, president and CEO of PeopleForBikes, said, “PeopleForBikes is pleased to enthusiastically endorse the Safe SPEEDS Act, which will direct the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to gather and analyze data about incidents involving the many e-mobility products under its jurisdiction. This legislation marks an important step towards understanding and mitigating the hazards posed by e-motos: higher speed electric motorized vehicles that are sold as electric dirt bikes, but often end up being inappropriately used on public roads by young riders.”
A proposal in New South Wales, Australia, known as the Student Bicycle License Scheme (SBLS) aims to act as a trial of a new licensing program for school-age riders of electric bikes.
Yahoo News Australia reports that teenagers are among the most frequent users of e-bikes, and that the proposed scheme, put forward by Bicycle NSW, aims to promote the safe use of e-bikes. The scheme is due to launch in some schools in mid-to-late September.
The scheme will require any students wanting to ride an e-bike or e-scooter to school to complete an online training course, and to pass a knowledge test, to be issued with a digital “ride-ready” license.
The CEO of Bicycle NSW, Peter McLean, said that the trial is mainly about promoting education and awareness. Individual schools are free to decide whether to participate and how to implement the scheme; for instance, they could make it mandatory for any student wanting to use the school’s secure bike parking facilities.
There are no current plans to introduce fines or other penalties for any unlicensed riders during the pilot phase – the initial focus is on education. The government is working with road safety experts and schools to develop training materials for the scheme, including topics such as speed limits, the use of helmets, etiquette on sidewalks, and the proper behaviour at intersections.
McLean said, “[The trial] focuses on a number of the basic rules for bicycle users, but also on etiquette and respect. It also includes helpful knowledge around bicycle security and equipment.” The trial stage will be assessed, he continued. “We just want to make sure we develop the program thoroughly first before we broaden the offering to others.”