The city council of Alicante is making a fresh effort to restrict electric scooters. The appropriate usage of personal mobility vehicles (PMVs) is the focus of a new special campaign that the Department of Safety is launching this month March. To cut down on infractions, the strategy will involve more police monitoring and discussions in schools.

Both drivers and pedestrians have frequently protested to the City Council about PMV users’ frequent violations of the rule governing the use of this form of transportation since it went into force. While electric scooters are prevalent on public roadways, certain behaviours are prohibited in Alicante, such as riding on sidewalks, transporting multiple people in one vehicle, or not wearing a helmet. Just under three penalties per day, or 4,252, have been imposed by the City Council in the five years that the ordinance has been in effect.

Awareness and instruction on road safety

The City Council is currently launching a new awareness campaign to lower the number of these infractions and inform the public about how to use personal mobility vehicles properly. “It is necessary to raise awareness among drivers of these vehicles about the importance of complying with the municipal ordinance to strengthen road safety on our streets and public spaces,” said Julio Calero, the security councillor.

To date, local police officers have visited 117 schools in the city to educate children on traffic laws on city roads, as well as the requirements, features, and various kinds of VPMs.

Management of infractions

Additionally, the campaign emphasises adherence to the restrictions placed on these kinds of vehicles in pedestrian zones as well as the prohibitions outlined in the municipal legislation. Throughout the second half of March, the Local Police will conduct more monitoring and pursue infractions to guarantee adherence to these rules.

In this context, the municipal measure will concentrate on places where electric scooters are not allowed, including pedestrian zones, bike lanes, bus lanes, the TRAM platform, sidewalks, and paved walkways (like the Explanada de España and the pedestrian walkways on Avenida de Niza, Postiguet, and Urbanova).

Fines range from 100 to 500 euros

The Local Police will also keep an eye out for and enforce infractions like riding without a helmet, transporting people for longer than one person at a time, not having the necessary braking system, using headphones or helmets while using a cell phone, or using a cell phone or other communication device.

In addition to enforcing pedestrian right-of-way and speed limitations, careless or reckless driving will result in legal action. It’s crucial to keep in mind that infractions of the local legislation carry fines of between €100 and €500.

“This awareness and surveillance campaign emphasises the importance of driving with caution when operating these vehicles and the priority of respecting pedestrians and other road users,” said Calero. The Safety Officer additionally stressed “the need to wear protective helmets, avoid riding on sidewalks or in pedestrian areas, and observe speed limits up to a maximum of 25 kilometres per hour.”

“A black metal model very similar to the current one but which increases the collection capacity from 100 to 250 litres,” said Luis Navarro, Councillor for Street Cleaning, of Benidorm City Council, which has started remodelling all of the trash cans along Paseo de Levante. In particular, the area between the intersection of Avenida Virgen del Sufragio and the end of Avenida de Madrid is where the new 250-liter rubbish bins are being placed. The area surrounding Plaza del Torrejó, which is smaller than the rest of the promenade, has a special installation of 100-litre rubbish bins.

According to Navarro, these bins are being renovated after the City Council “acquired 115 units, 65 of which hold 100 litres and 50 of which hold 250 litres, all of which are equipped with anti-vandalism systems.”

The 65 100-liter bins will be dispersed “between Paseo de Poniente and Avenida del Mediterráneo and the surrounding area,” while all of the high-capacity units will be placed on Paseo de Levante “because it’s the area of Benidorm where the greatest amount of waste is generated throughout the day.”

The mayor further stated that “all the waste bins removed from these locations will be relocated to other areas of Benidorm after being cleaned, repainted, and repaired, replacing any damaged or other models.” According to Navarro, the medium-term goal is “to implement a single model of waste bin throughout the city, with a black metal look and embossed with the Benidorm name.” He explained that “the new waste collection and street cleaning contract will include the supply and maintenance of waste bins throughout the city.”

Aena said in a statement that Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport, which handles 15 to 25 million passengers a year, has been named the Best European Airport in its category by the Airports Council International (ACI) for the quality of services it provides to its users.

Based on traveler feedback, these awards are a component of the ASQ program. The airport in Alicante has also received recognition for its consistent efforts over the years. It has been inducted into ACI’s roll of honour with the ‘ACI World Director General’s Roll of Excellence’ after achieving this distinction for the fifth time, having done so in 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023.

El Hierro Airport is one of just 10 airports worldwide to have been awarded this designation in 2024. Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport “performed a number of actions within its airport quality plan last year in an effort to further improve the travel experience for all its users.”

Aena’s “Oli” chatbot for passenger assistance, the installation of a street art mural on the airfield to greet passengers, the opening of the first Sensory Room for travellers with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and the expansion of its duty-free shop with new interactive and digital elements are a few of these.

“Staying ahead”

“In today’s rapidly evolving world where passenger experiences are higher than ever, airports must continually push the boundaries of service to stay ahead,” said ACI World Director General Justin Erbacci, who applauded the airport community at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport.

The award, according to Laura Navarro, director of Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport, “encourages us to continue working and also represents support for the Aena team, which has demonstrated its commitment to improving services over the years, and for all the staff and institutions that carry out their work at the airport with great professionalism.”

The annual ACI World Customer Experience Summit and Exhibition, which will be hosted in Guangzhou, China, from September 8th–11th, 2025, will include the awards ceremony.