Electric scooters banned in Madrid to ensure pedestrian safety
6 September 2024 07:24
Starting in October, electric rental scooters will disappear from the streets of Madrid. The mayor of Madrid, Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida, explained on social media, "Our priority is the physical integrity and safety of Madrid's residents. "
The Spanish capital's authorities announced that they are revoking the permits of three companies operating electric scooters that will be removed from Madrid's streets starting in October. They justified the decision with the safety of its residents.
"Our priority is the physical integrity and safety of Madrid's residents," the mayor of Madrid, Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida, wrote on Thursday on the X portal.
Dangerous, poorly parked
Three companies operating 6,000 vehicles in the Spanish capital, Lime, Dott, and Tier Mobility, will have to remove them from the capital's streets starting in October.
According to Almeida, the companies did not meet safety conditions concerning pedestrians, especially the elderly, did not provide services for the entire city, and lacked insurance. "Technological improvements to ensure that the vehicles do not ride on pavements or park in inappropriate places were not introduced," added the mayor.
At the same time, Almeida declared that private electric scooters will still be able to move freely around the city.
"Madrid follows in the footsteps of other European capitals, such as Paris," commented the "ABC" newspaper on Madrid's city hall decision. Following last year's referendum in Paris, about 10,000 scooters disappeared from the French capital.
