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A 59-year-old British man died on Wednesday in Orihuela Costa, following an accident on Calle Baikal after falling off his electric scooter.
According to local sources the man, identified only as Adrian, was returning from work when he is said to have hit a pothole and flown over the handlebars, although this is yet to be confirmed by the authorities.
According to police sources, the incident occurred around 8:00 pm on Wednesday evening, with no other individuals involved.
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The Emergency Information and Coordination Centre (CICU) dispatched a Emergency Medical Service (SAMU) to the scene. The medical team performed advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other stabilization techniques, but there was no response.
Electric scooters are increasingly used in the Orihuela Costa area due to the region’s vast urban layout, minimal public transport, and long distances between residential areas and popular tourist spots like beaches and shopping centres.
This transportation option is becoming a fast, efficient, and eco-friendly way to improve urban mobility. However, scooters have also faced criticism for being left abandoned in public spaces, such as pavements, pedestrian crossings, and even in the middle of streets, causing traffic and safety issues, especially during peak tourist seasons.
While the urban structure allows for relatively easy scooter parking without major issues for pedestrians, problems such as reckless driving or improper parking still persist. Many of these issues depend on the user’s responsibility and civic attitude, which will need to show a vast improvement if electric scooters are to remain a beneficial transport option.
Currently the use of scooters is regulated by the local mobility ordinance, which outlines rules such as prohibiting parking in obstructive locations and limiting usage to one person per scooter although it rarely seems to be exercised.
The rental system for these scooters has also highlighted the chaotic nature of the service. After two consecutive summers in which local police seized hundreds of scooters from companies renting them without permission, the Orihuela City Council launched a tender at the end of the year for a four-year contract to manage the service.
This new contract aims to streamline the service and address complaints from residents about issues like reckless riding and improper parking.
The terms of the contract specify a total of 750 scooters distributed across 120 parking stations, though locations and the number of units may change based on demand, which can increase to 1,200 units with justification. The scooters will be distributed by season: low (300 units from January to March, November, and December), medium (450 units from April to June and October), and high (750 units from July to September).
These authorized personal mobility vehicles must be parked in designated spots and cannot obstruct pedestrian traffic, urban furniture, or building entrances. The company managing the service must have its own system in place to ensure compliance with parking rules throughout the day. They are responsible for collecting improperly parked scooters and relocating them to designated areas. Violations of parking and circulation rules will result in penalties.
The company must also have insurance coverage of at least €500,000 to cover potential damages to users, pedestrians, and third parties. Parking areas must be a standard size of 4.50 x 2.20 meters, though this may vary depending on available space. Additionally, the company must ensure regular maintenance, charging (at night), repair, and the development of a mobile app.
The company managing the service will pay a fee of €34,366 to the city, which corresponds to 40% of the gross profit after accounting for costs and estimated revenue. The age of the scooter fleet will also be considered in the tender process, with 20% of the scooters needing to be no older than three years, and the remaining 80% must be newly acquired.
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