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Date Published: 27/12/2024

From chaos to control: Orihuela Costa revolutionises electric scooter management

Going forward, a single company will manage some 1,200 electric scooters at 120 locations in Orihuela Costa

After two consecutive summers of chaos during which the Local Police had to seize hundreds of electric scooters on the Orihuela Costa, a new era of organised mobility is set to begin.

The Orihuela Costa is a sprawling area with long distances between many of the popular urbanisations, commercial centres and beaches. Electric scooters have transformed the way people get about, but to say they divide opinion is something of an understatement.

Several companies operate on the coast and while most are responsible – ensuring the scooters are parked in designated areas and picked up promptly – others operate without the proper permits, leading to ongoing complaints from residents and holidaymakers alike.

From next year, a single company will take over the management of all Orihuela Costa’s scooters, with the aim of bringing some order to an often problematic service.

The Heritage Department, headed by Matías Ruiz, has put out to tender a four-year contract for a single company to provide a service that has been fraught with irregularities. These include reckless driving, use of pavements and the abandonment of vehicles in places that hinder pedestrian walkways or access to buildings.

“Due to its extensive urban configuration and the long distances that exist between different urbanisations and the points of greatest tourist influx such as beaches, shopping centres, etc., it is necessary to make an agile, efficient and eco-sustainable proposal for urban transport,” the proposal says, “in order to improve urban mobility.”

The contract specifies a total of 750 scooters initially, distributed across 120 parking spaces. However, the final locations and the number of scooters can vary based on demand, with the potential to increase to 1,200 units if justified. The distribution of scooters will also vary by season to meet the changing needs of the community:

Low Season (January to March, November and December): A minimum of 300 scooters will be available.
Mid Season (April to June and October): The number will increase to 450 scooters.
High Season (July, August and September): 750 scooters will be available to meet the peak demand.

To ensure compliance and safety, the successful bidder will be responsible for enforcing parking regulations, which includes relocating improperly parked scooters to designated spots throughout the day.

The company will also be liable for any violations of parking and traffic regulations, and they may impose penalties on users for improper parking.

Additionally, the company must have a comprehensive insurance policy with a minimum coverage of 500,000 euros to cover all possible damages, extending to scooter users, other pedestrians and public or private property.

Maintenance and operational standards are also a key part of the contract. The company must ensure regular maintenance, including routine checks, recharging (to be done at night), repairs and replacements.

Furthermore, 20% of the personal mobility vehicles must be no more than three years old, and the remaining 80% must be new.

The company that takes over the service will have to pay Orihuela City Council a fee of 34,366 euros, which corresponds to 40% of the gross profit after calculating the difference between the expense involved (456,332 euros) and the estimated profit (542,250).

Somewhat ironically, the contract, which was drawn up by Orihuela City Council, specifically mentions the “municipal area of Orihuela Costa”. This will have caused many eyes to roll, since groups on the coast have long been petitioning for independence from the city and the status of its own municipality.

In other news: Spanish traffic authorities introduce new rules for overtaking cyclists

Image: Archive

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