• At the instance of the Barcelona ATM, and for safety reasons, public transport operators have amended the general conditions of use of their services in order to accommodate this temporary ban on access of electric scooters and unicycles
   
• The access rules proposed to operators by the ATM will take into account essential aspects of public health and safety, but with the aim of guaranteeing intermodal transport

Barcelona, 28 June 2023.- The Metropolitan Transport Authority of the Barcelona area decides to extend by three months the temporary ban on access to public transport for electric scooters and other personal mobility vehicles (PMVS) such as electric unicycles. Thus, the restriction will remain in effect until 31 October 2023, when it is expected that the definitive proposed regulation on the access and safety of these vehicles will have been drawn up.

The regulations proposed to operators by the ATM will take into account essential aspects of public health and, although the principle of safety will prevail at all times, the final goal of supporting intermodal transport and therefore the inclusion of these personal mobility vehicles in public transport will be maintained. The final decision will be made based on the conclusions reached by the working group that has been meeting regularly since last December. This process of dialogue is being carried out in collaboration with the various stakeholders involved in the safety of the transport system: operators, firefighters, health, civil protection, industrial safety and others.

The Barcelona ATM will announce the decision once it has been approved by its Board of Directors.

Background to the temporary ban

At its meeting on 19 December 2022, as a result of the explosion of an electric scooter in a carriage of the Government of Catalonia Railways on 17 November, the Board of Directors of the ATM decided to ask public transport operators to amend the general terms and conditions of use of their services to include a temporary ban for a period of six months on access to public transport for electric scooters and other personal electric mobility vehicles (unicycles).Aquesta decisió va ser presa sota el principi de seguretat preventiva que regeix per als operadors quant a la protecció de les persones usuàries, del personal que treballa al servei de transport públic i les seves instal·lacions.

This decision was made on the principle of preventive safety governing operators with regard to the protection of users, the staff working in the public transport services and their facilities. It was thus decided not to allow the access of these vehicles until conclusions were reached as to the conditions in which the safety of these personal mobility vehicles could be guaranteed.

Announcements and information for users

Starting on 1 February, the public transport operators and the authorities responsible for their services will provide information on the temporary ban on entering their facilities and vehicles with electric scooters and unicycles (including ones that are folded up).

The graphic medium for the information will be the following sign:

Inter-modal parking facilities

During this period, parking spaces have been set up progressively for scooters at rail stations and bus interchanges. In this regard, the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (AMB), faced with the need to make it easier for citizens to park and exchange points for these devices with public transport, has allowed the parking of electric scooters and other PMVs in ‘Biciboxes’. The metropolitan secure bicycle and scooter parking service has 2,571 spaces.

Official penalties

Breaches of the ban on transporting electric scooters and unicycles in vehicles and at facilities beyond the ticket barrier will result in a €200 fine. This will be enforced by the inspection teams of the public transport operators.

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