Benidorm has long been a destination favoured by senior holidaymakers - Spanish and foreign - because of its beaches, good services and infrastructure as well as the sense that anyone can ‘feel at home’ there.
However, this year there seems to be a rise in those who use mobility scooters, causing complaints from residents of the Costa Blanca city, arguing that there’s now been “an invasion” of them.
The number of these electric vehicles has already begun to affect traffic in Benidorm, and according to a report from news site Telecinco, the massive presence of these motorised vehicles, especially among British tourists, has made walking in certain areas increasingly difficult.
According to reports there are now more than 1,500 of these vehicles being driven through the streets of Benidorm, from the usual single ones, to big double ones with couples riding around together.
One owner of a mobility scooter rental shop, interviewed on another news channel (RTVE) said that he has seen an uptick in mobility scooters in the resort town since 2008, due to the British TV show ‘Benidorm’ in which one of the main characters rode around in her vehicle all the time and used it for everything she did.
He believes that having one of these scooters has because almost desirable or fashionable among older British holidaymakers there.
There are certain requisites in places in some rental shops in Benidorm, including not being able to rent them if you’re under 55 years old, unless you have a disability.
But local residents have called for stricter regulations to be established. They believe that these vehicles should be used only by those who really need them and suggest that clear rules be implemented for their operation.
They are also calling for the need to prohibit the use of them under the influence of alcohol, due to the risks associated with speed and lack of control that can endanger pedestrians.
Recently, former F1 champion Johnny Herbert starred in a video campaign by the On the Beach travel agency in which he told British pensioners in Benidorm how to behave when driving these small vehicles.
This boom in mobility scooters is also raising concerns from health experts who have spoken out about the possible negative effects of extensive use of them. They warn that the use of these vehicles generates excessive dependence that can reduce the level of physical activity of users.
But this isn't the first time that Benidorm has had problems with with these types of vehicles and there are already a set of regulations in place. Back in 2019, authorities introduced a set of general rules for personalised mobility vehicles.
Then in 2022, the Department of Mobility, together with the local police, stepped up control, specifically for seniors using mobility scooters and established that the rental of these self-propelled wheelchairs is limited to people with proven mobility problems, with disabilities or who are over 55 years of age.
They also introduced fines for anyone who fails to comply with these rules or for improper usage, which can reach up to €500.
Those with reduced mobility are allowed on pavements with their vehicles, however, they are only allowed to travel at a maximum speed of four kilometres per hour, the equivalent of the speed of pedestrians. According to Benidorm rental shops, the scooters can easily reach up to speeds of 12km per hour, so it's not difficult to quickly go over the speed limit.
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