Spain sets 15‑year age limit for e‑scooters, mandates helmets and cuts speed when overtaking cyclists

On 23 June 2026 the Spanish government approved an amendment to the Reglamento General de Circulación that will come into force on 1 October 2026. The reform introduces a formal definition of “vulnerable road users” and groups the changes into six blocks covering personal mobility vehicles, cyclists, motorcyclists, car drivers, taxi drivers and other road participants.

Key measures include: - Minimum age of 15 years to ride electric scooters, with mandatory helmets, lighting and reflective vests at night; professional scooter riders must wear helmets and vests at all times. - All cyclists must wear helmets on inter‑urban routes and professional bike riders must also use reflective vests. - Motorcyclists and riders of mopeds must wear gloves, closed shoes and helmets meeting homologation standards; sandals and open footwear are prohibited. - Drivers overtaking cyclists must reduce their speed by at least 20 km/h below the posted limit, change lanes completely on multi‑lane roads, keep a lateral distance of at least 1.5 m and a following distance of 5 m in urban areas. - Infractions carry a €200 fine. These rules aim to improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and users of personal mobility devices.