On Wednesday afternoon, 2nd April, on the Orihuela Costa, a 59-year-old man died while riding an electric scooter on Calle Baikal, close to La Florida urbanisation.

A medical team was sent to the scene after the Emergency Information and Coordination Centre (Cicu) got a report of a scooter fall.

The Urgent Medical Aid Service (Samu) staff used advanced cardiac resuscitation and other stabilisation procedures after discovering the man on the ground.

Since there was no reaction to the resuscitation attempts, the medical staff could only confirm the 59-year-old man’s death.

Accidents involving scooters

Within a week, there have been two more scooter accidents in the province. The first was a collision with a tram on line 2 in Alicante on 28th March.

Two ambulances were called to the scene of the incident, which happened close to San Vicente del Raspeig’s Outlet shopping centre.

The 32-year-old male was transported to the Alicante hospital after suffering several injuries, including a fractured leg.

Last Monday was the second accident. On the same line, a 17-year-old girl riding a scooter collided with another tram. She was bruised and taken to Sant Joan Hospital.

Due to rising demand and the fact that vacation rentals are more profitable than long-term rentals, there has been a notable surge in these types of rentals in the major Costa Blanca attractions in recent years.

Numerous city councils have previously attempted to limit this practice because many experts now identify it as one of the primary reasons for the astounding and unchecked increase in rental rates. Finestrat is the most recent to do so, having decided in a plenary session to halt the issuance of new licences until a new ordinance governing the industry is written.

When asked why the local government team came to this conclusion, Víctor Llinares, the Urban Planning Councillor for Finestrat, admitted that “everyone is aware of the proliferation of housing in this area and the problems that are sometimes arising from making this use compatible with residential use.”

In this sense, the council’s goal is to create order between these two regions, which are now hazy. It has been decided, according to Linares, to temporarily halt the granting of certificates “in order to study the draughting of an ordinance that specifically regulates in which areas and under what conditions certificates of compatibility for tourist use will be granted from now on.”

Thus, Finestrat joins other towns like Altea, l’Alfàs del Pi, and Polop in the Marina Baixa zone, which is one of the most popular tourist destinations along the entire Alicante coast, where permits are stopped.

Additionally, the plenary assembly in Benidorm on Monday, 31st March, approved giving the local police and the municipal inspection corps the authority that has previously been held by the regional governments to examine these accommodations and punish those who break these rules.

According to Vectalia, non-personalised media will no longer be accepted as of May 1st, 2025, and the new MOBILIS 30 cards—which will be made of plastic and will be branded with the holder’s photo and information—will be the only way for young people under 31 to use free public transport. These cards will also be the basis for future discounts that will be applied starting on June 30th. This means that the cardboard passes that up until now allowed young people to use certain public transport.

The Alicante TRAM system, the Valencia Metropolitan Transport System, the Castelló TRAM system, and certain Alicante Metropolitan TAM lines are now covered by the MOBILIS 30 card.

For whom is this new card intended?

The new card is designed for residents of Spain who are at least 31 years old. You need to provide the following paperwork in order to apply:

Age range: 14–30 years old; live in Spain; and a valid youth card.
Spanish family book for children under 14 without a national ID.
Foreign nationals, both EU and non-EU, are required to present a resident certificate from the General Police Directorate as proof of their lawful residency in Spain.

How can I obtain my updated coupon?

The application can be filled out online and sent to the address listed on the application by standard mail. To apply for the voucher, visit the website established by the Valencian government.

Furthermore, the TRAM’s internal machinery are also capable of carrying out this upgrade.

What is the card’s amount?

The card is priced at 4 euros. The service will be free when you buy the card.

Which lines of public transport are covered by the pass?

The lines that take the MOBILIS 30 card are listed here.

( 21 ) 21: Alicante – San Juan Beach – El Campello
( 21N ) 21N: Alicante (Puerta del Mar Square) – San Juan Beach – El Campello
( 23 ) 23: Alicante – Hospital de Sant Joan – Sant Joan – Mutxamel
( 23N ) 23N: Alicante (Plaza Puerta del Mar) – Sant Joan – Mutxamel
( 24 ) 24: Alicante (Bus Station) – University of Alicante – San Vicente del Raspeig
( 24N ) 24N: Alicante (Plaza del Mar) – University of Alicante – San Vicente del Raspeig
( 30 ) 30: San Vicente del Raspeig – La Alcoraya
( 31 ) 31: Mutxamel – San Juan – Playa San Juan
( 36 ) 36: San Gabriel – University
( 38 ) 38: San Juan Beach – Sant Joan Hospital – University