Spain's new motorcycle traffic rules face Catalonia split

A national reform to Spain’s Reglamento General de Circulación, effective 1 October 2026, allows motorcycles to travel on the hard shoulder in congestion, limited to 30 km/h and only on marked sections. The change, long demanded by riders, is legal throughout Spain except in Catalonia. Catalonia’s traffic authority (SCT) has announced it will not apply the rule, warning that any motorcyclist using the shoulder on Catalan roads can be fined up to €200. SCT director Ramón Lamiel said, “Si bien el nuevo marco legal de la DGT abre la puerta a que las motocicletas utilicen el arcén…, la última palabra la tenía el SCT… y ya se ha pronunciado.”

In the same decree (Real Decreto 518/2026), a mandatory high‑visibility reflective vest for motorcyclists on inter‑urban roads and highways is introduced. The BOE states, “Los conductores de motocicletas … deberán utilizar un chaleco reflectante de alta visibilidad… cuando salgan de este y ocupen la calzada o el arcén de las vías interurbanas.” The vest must be carried on the bike and worn only if the rider stops on the road or shoulder. Both measures take effect on 1 October.

The split between national and regional implementation creates a legal discrepancy for riders travelling across Spain, particularly when crossing into Catalonia.