The Local Police in Valencia have launched a new unit, with twelve officers patrolling the city's bike path network on specially designed electric scooters. The initiative aims to improve traffic safety and oversee users of personal mobility vehicles, following a sharp increase in accidents involving them in recent years. The actions are part of the city's sustainable mobility development plan for 2026–2030.
New specialist police unit
The Cycle Path Inspection and Surveillance Group has been created, consisting of twelve officers moving on electric scooters.
Response to rising accidents
The decision is a reaction to a 186 percent increase in accidents involving PMVs between 2019 and 2023 in the city.
Patrol scope and tasks
Police officers will monitor approximately 200 kilometers of bike paths, focusing on the city center and other critical points.
Part of a broader mobility strategy
The initiative is part of the city's Vector Plan 2026–2030 and the strategy of the Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT).
The Local Police in Valencia launched a pioneering patrol unit in Spain this week, with officers traveling on bike paths using electric scooters. The new formation, named the Cycle Path Inspection and Surveillance Group, consists of twelve specialized agents. They will patrol the city's extensive, approximately 200-kilometer network of bike paths, with particular focus on the downtown area and other high-collision risk locations. The main goal is to improve safety and oversee users of personal mobility vehicles (PMVs). The mass popularity of electric scooters as a means of urban transport began around 2017 with the expansion of international companies offering minute-based rentals. The rapid increase in their numbers in European cities initially outpaced the creation of detailed regulations, leading to chaos on sidewalks and bike paths and a rise in accidents. The direct impetus for establishing the unit was the drastic increase in the number of accidents involving PMVs in Valencia. According to data cited by local media, the number of such incidents increased by 186 percent between 2019 and 2023. The officers on scooters will be tasked not only with enforcing regulations and issuing fines for violations but also with identifying dangerous spots in the infrastructure, the improvement of which could enhance overall safety. Their vehicles have been specially designed for police service, distinguishing them from commercial models available to residents. 186% — increase in PMV accidents in Valencia (2019–2023) The initiative is not an isolated action but part of a broader, long-term city strategy. It is incorporated into the Vector Plan 2026–2030, which aims to promote sustainable forms of transport and improve the quality of life in the city. The actions also align with the guidelines of the Spanish Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT). As noted by the media, patrolling bike paths using a vehicle with similar parameters and maneuverability to citizens' PMVs gives police officers better insight into the real problems and traffic dynamics on these routes. This allows for faster and more effective response than patrolling by car or motorcycle. These actions are intended to serve not only repression but also prevention and education of path users. „Doce agents patrullarán los 200 kilómetros de red ciclista para reducir la siniestralidad de los VMP, dentro del Plan Vector 2026-2030 y en línea con la estrategia de la DGT.” (Twelve agents will patrol the 200 kilometers of the cycle network to reduce the accident rate of PMVs, within the Vector Plan 2026-2030 and in line with the DGT's strategy.) — La Vanguardia