Access for users of electric scooters or unicycles in public transport facilities and vehicles within the Community of Madrid has been prohibited since this Saturday for safety reasons. This follows an incident on the 17th when the battery of one of these devices exploded indoors at a location near a train at La Elipa station on Metro Line 2. The decision aims to prevent similar hazards and protect riders, staff, and pedestrians in the transit network.
The restriction is set to take effect across the Community’s public transport system, which is overseen by the Regional Transport Consortium (CRTM). It will apply to buses operated by the Madrid Municipal Transport Company (EMT), as well as intercity and urban buses in other municipalities, the Madrid Metro network, light rail services, and the five key interchange hubs at Plaza de Castilla, Moncloa, Príncipe Pío, and Plaza Elíptica and Avenida de América. This broad scope ensures that personal mobility devices are not used in any segment of the public transport infrastructure while the measure remains in force.
According to the decision published in the Official Journal of the Community of Madrid (BOCM), the restriction will stay in place until the relevant regulations on this matter are issued, but no more than nine months as a maximum timeframe. During this period, safety conditions for such devices on public transport must be fully evaluated by the regional administration to prevent new incidents and to establish robust safety standards for future use, if any, within the public transport environment.
Non-compliance with the regulation will result in the immediate removal of offenders from the transport facilities and fines ranging from 100 to 200 euros, or a fixed amount of 300 TL, depending on the enforcement channel and the specific authorities applying the rules. This penalty framework underscores the seriousness with which authorities view the risk posed by personal mobility devices in transit spaces.
The measure has been coordinated with state operators Renfe Cercanías and the concessionaires responsible for road passenger transport operating routes linking Castilla y León and Castilla-La Mancha, as well as with the Community of Madrid, which has an established agreement with these entities. In practice, users carrying such devices will be unable to enter or exit the public transport system through the region’s facilities until the restrictions are revisited or lifted based on future regulatory outcomes.
To ensure widespread compliance, CRTM will task relevant operators with communicating this decision across all channels. This includes updating digital and print information channels such as social media, websites, posters, information panels, and vinyl displays to reflect the new policy so that riders are clearly informed before travel or entry attempts.
Jorge Rodrigo, the Minister of Housing, Transport and Infrastructure, emphasized the primary objective of the measure: to guarantee the safety of Madrid’s residents and all passengers who use public transport, as well as the staff who work within the network and maintain the infrastructure day after day. The goal is to minimize risk and maintain a secure environment for everyone who relies on the transit system.
There are also similar safety measures being discussed in other regions. For instance, the Autoritat del Transport Metropolità (ATM) in the Barcelona area has indicated a temporary restriction on electric scooters within certain public transportation settings, reflecting a broader concern about personal mobility devices in high-traffic transit spaces. Additionally, in Seville, access restrictions apply during weekday rush hours to metro vehicles for certain devices, highlighting how different regions are tailoring rules to local circumstances while prioritizing safety.
CRTM’s board of directors includes representatives from the Community of Madrid, the City Council of Madrid, other regional councils, the General Administration of State, as well as trade unions, business associations, consumers, and users. The composition of the board underscores a multi-stakeholder approach to transit safety that considers the needs and concerns of various groups involved in and affected by the public transport system.