Lorca issues over 1,000 fines as scooter rules tighten
Safety campaign leads to surge in penalties as authorities enforce electric scooter laws
The Ayuntamiento of Lorca has stepped up enforcement of local rules on electric scooters, issuing more than 400 fines so far this year and 1,027 in total since the municipal ordinance came into effect two years ago. These fines were given for breaches such as failing to follow road rules, not wearing the required safety gear, and riding in prohibited areas, reflecting a community-wide effort to reduce risks and make public spaces safer for everyone.Local police have launched more than 1,500 traffic checks since early 2024, aiming to ensure scooter users comply with the rules. In the current year alone, 740 control campaigns have already taken place, showing a continued emphasis on road safety for both riders and pedestrians. The authorities report that most users are cooperating, but regular checks are needed as more mobility vehicles appear on Lorca’s streets.
Lorca’s ordinance, which has been active since 2023, sets out clear requirements. The minimum age to ride an electric scooter is 15, speeds cannot exceed 25 kilometres per hour, and all riders must wear a reflective vest to increase visibility. Fines for breaking the rules range from €100 to €600, depending on how serious the offence is. Electric scooters are only allowed on certain roads and must not be used on pavements, pedestrian areas, major roads, or tunnels. While the use of helmets is mandatory under the ordinance, current legislation does not yet allow officers to fine users who are not wearing one.
Many residents have raised concerns about safety, with some admitting they feel uneasy walking in areas where scooters pass by at speed. As a result, the local authorities are planning more public awareness campaigns and ongoing checks to keep up with the growth in scooter use .
The increase in enforcement follows a rise in reported scooter accidents in recent years, especially involving illegally modified models. With national requirements for insurance also set to come into force, electric scooter users in Lorca and elsewhere will soon face even stricter rules on the roads.
Image: Jonathan Borba/Pexels
Address
C.C Parque Almenara, Camino de Enmedio s/n., Diputacion del Campillo. 30813, Lorca, (Murcia)Tel: 968 46 37 37
Murcia’s second biggest centro comercial has more than just shopping – it’s everything you could want from a day out!
Parque Almenara is one of the largest retail and leisure malls in the Lorca and Águilas area, offering the full ‘all under one roof’ shopping experience, except it is open to the elements!
It has all your favourite brands and shops like Stradivarius and Mango, spread out over two easily accessed levels. There is also a Carrefour, plus larger retail units for electrical products and home and garden goods.
Unlike other shopping centres, Parque Almenara is a shopping mall where the stores are located in a network of streets, like a whole shopping village that covers almost 150,000m2, making it the second largest shopping centre in the Region of Murcia.One of the most striking features of Parque Almenara is its three canvas tents suspended 20 metres above the outdoor area, creating a shaded zone and an oasis of calm right in the middle of the mall.
As well as the opportunity for a day’s retail therapy, Parque Almenara also offers the makings of good night out. There is a 10-pin bowling alley with 20 lanes and an entertainment complex, plus a multiscreen cinema with ten screens showing the latest offerings from Hollywood and the best 3D movies, and even original version English-language films.And with no fewer than eight separate options to grab a bite to eat at the food court, you can stay at the Parque Almenara all day if you want to!
You can even take your dog along with you as pets are allowed into the mall, an animal-friendly place.
How to get there
Parque Almenara is located on the Lorca–Águilas road C-3211 at km 1.9. On a GPS, the coordinates to put in are: N 37º 63´ W -1º 69´
If you’re going by bus, there is a direct bus route that leaves from Apolonia.
