The
Spanish
coastal
resort
of
Benidorm
has
spoken
out
against
the
explosion
of
UK
holidaymakers
on
mobility
scooters
clogging
up
the
streets,
drink
driving
and
relying
on
these
small
vehicles
instead
of
walking.
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.
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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
now
around
1,500
of
these
vehicles
in
Benidorm.
Photo:
JOSE
JORDAN
/
AFP
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.
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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.