Benidorm amends its Mobility Ordinance to tighten regulations on the use of self-propelled wheelchairs

Benidorm City Council has today approved the initial amendment of Municipal Mobility Ordinance No. 1, introducing new measures aimed at strengthening road safety and environmental sustainability in the urban area, as well as tightening regulations governing the use of self-propelled wheelchairs. The revised ordinance expressly prohibits the use of wheelchairs designed to carry more than one person.

The amendment was unanimously approved by all political groups following the mandatory 15-day public consultation period, during which no objections, suggestions or contributions were received regarding the proposed text, as explained by Mobility Councillor Francis Muñoz.

Muñoz explained that “the constant evolution of urban mobility, the emergence of new forms of transport and the ongoing need to adapt local regulations to social and legal developments make it essential to regularly review and update municipal ordinances”. In this case, the changes concern Mobility Ordinance No. 1.

He also noted that the new text “replaces the original ordinance in its entirety, together with all subsequent partial amendments”. This will “bring existing provisions and the new amendments into line, clarify and harmonise the regulations, and improve administrative efficiency by allowing the entire ordinance to be approved in a single procedure”.

As Muñoz explained, the revised Mobility Ordinance is based on three key strategic and legal pillars.

The first is to align municipal regulations with national traffic and road-safety legislation, specifically the amendments introduced by Royal Decree 518/2026 of 24 June, which modifies the General Traffic Regulations to better protect vulnerable road users.

This alignment ensures consistency between the regulations applicable across the municipality and the wider national legal framework, while strengthening legal certainty for all road users.

The second pillar focuses on strengthening road safety and environmental sustainability through measures designed to calm traffic and protect the most vulnerable road users, addressing the high number of accidents associated with emerging forms of mobility and Personal Mobility Vehicles (PMVs).

The third and final pillar concerns the regulation of self-propelled wheelchairs. An amendment to Title IX updates the conditions governing their use and expressly prohibits wheelchairs designed to carry more than one person from being used on public thoroughfares, helping to ensure road safety on pavements and in pedestrian areas.

Francis Muñoz thanked municipal technical staff and the Local Police for their work and cooperation in revising the ordinance and adapting it to the city’s current circumstances and needs.

Following this initial approval, the revised text will undergo a further 30-working-day public consultation period before final approval and entry into force.

Meanwhile, the council meeting also unanimously approved Benidorm City Council’s endorsement of the updated text of the Cooperation Agreement for the Funding and Implementation of Infrastructure and Projects within the La Vila Joiosa Wastewater Collection and Treatment System.

The agreement is to be signed by the Generalitat Valenciana, through its Third Vice-Presidency and Regional Department for the Environment, Infrastructure, Territory and Recovery; the Valencian Community’s Public Wastewater Treatment Authority (EPSAR); and the town councils of La Vila Joiosa, Finestrat and Benidorm.

Water Cycle Councillor José Ramón González de Zárate explained that the agreement provides for an investment of €18 million, of which more than €1.8 million will go towards the project to upgrade the Cruz Roja I pumping station and improve the associated rising main in Benidorm.

He stressed that the amendment to the agreement “does not affect the planned investments in any way”. Instead, it concerns the removal of Orxeta, a municipality that was included in the original text despite no works being planned there. Orxeta has therefore been removed from the updated agreement.

The proposal was unanimously approved by all political groups on the council, as was the case when the agreement was previously brought before the full council.

Three motions put forward by Human Resources Councillor Ana Soliveres were also unanimously approved, authorising three municipal employees to combine their current positions with a second role in the public sector as university lecturers. Also approved unanimously was a proposal by Festivities Councillor Mariló Cebreros to designate 15 and 16 November as local public holidays in 2027, coinciding with the Monday and Tuesday of Benidorm’s Festes Majors Patronals (annual patron saint festivities).

The council also approved, with the support of the 16 councillors from the ruling Partido Popular (People’s Party), a series of invoices requiring full council approval for street cleaning and municipal solid waste collection, cleaning of municipal buildings, and maintenance of the traffic light network and public lighting.

Finance Councillor Aida García Mayor stated that the invoices total €1,798,691.55. She explained that they relate to services provided under expired contracts, which are currently undergoing new procurement procedures, and that the invoices had therefore been processed without the usual prior financial oversight.

She reiterated that “all the invoices have received favourable technical reports”, which confirm that “the services have been provided, the prices are in line with market rates, and their provision was essential to the proper functioning of the city and the delivery of basic and essential services, which cannot be discontinued”.

The Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) once again voted against payment of the invoices, while the Vox councillor abstained.

During the debate, García Mayor announced that the Tender Committee would meet this Wednesday to open the third and final envelope containing the bids submitted by the three companies competing for the street cleaning and waste collection contract. This follows the review of their technical proposals by municipal staff. The final envelope contains each bidder’s financial offer.

Finally, all political groups on the council were informed of the inclusion of a grant in the Strategic Subsidies Plan (PES), approved at the council meeting held on 27 April 2026, as well as the approval of Benidorm City Council’s 2026 Financial Control Plan.