E-scooters: where I can ride in the city

E-scooters have become a very practical and useful way of getting around the city. They are small, lightweight and versatile vehicles, which allow fast and efficient mobility and, above all, without polluting. However, e-scooters present several problems that city councils are trying to control and minimise. Gradually, and once a standardised framework has been established, more and more councils have been adopting it, especially in the large cities.

So, if we have one of these e-scooters, what do we need to know in order to ride around the cities without problems? Let’s look at the regulations in the main cities and where you can ride without breaking the law.

What you need to know if you have an e-scooter

The first thing you should know is that you have a VMP, that is, a Personal Mobility Vehicle. According to this designation, these are electric vehicles that are not considered motor vehicles, but are also not vehicles propelled by the pedal power of their users. For all purposes, they are treated the same as bicycles, although with some additional restrictions.

This makes sense because these are vehicles that can exceed 30 km/h, a speed higher than that of a traditional bicycle on city streets. So, where can e-scooters ride?

Riding e-scooters

VMPs are regulated by the city councils, so although there is a common basis in all cities, the regulation may vary in some details from one city to another. What is true for all of them is that they may under no circumstances ride on pavements, so you need to know where you can ride without problems. In the case of Madrid, they may use bike lanes, residential streets, with a speed limit of 20 km/h; cycle streets, which are streets reserved exclusively for bicycles; cycle tracks; cycle pavements and cycle paths. In other words, wherever bicycles can ride without restrictions.

They may not ride on non-residential roads, such as motorways or expressways, nor on streets that connect residential areas. In Barcelona there are changes: although the maximum speed rises to 30 km/h on bike lanes, on streets without a raised pavement the maximum speed is only 10 km/h. Parking is only permitted in areas where bicycles and motorcycles may park. Helmets, however, are mandatory.

In Valencia the restrictions remain, and you may also ride on the streets that allow bicycles. That is, you may ride on bike lanes, cycle streets and residential areas, with a maximum speed of 30 km/h. Parking is limited to the parking areas for bicycles and motorcycles, so the options are quite limited.

In short, you may not ride where e-scooters could pose a danger to pedestrians, and you may ride e-scooters wherever bicycles have free access. Remember that breaching your city’s regulations on VMPs can lead to a fairly high fine, ranging from €0 to €3,000. Check your city’s regulations and you will avoid fines and problems with your e-scooter.