The Barcelona City Council will start a new campaign this summer to maintain greater control and surveillance of so-called pedicabs , in addition to working to establish a new regulatory framework for them.
With the end of the state of alarm and the return of mobility to the streets, the town hall has expected the arrival of visitors in a much higher number than last summer , which will undoubtedly be linked to the increase in activities related to the presence of tourists . The pedicab is one of the elements to regulate.
Technicians from the DGT (General Directorate of Traffic) and the City Council have begun the first works to establish the requirements on which the new pedicab regulations will be based . In addition, the Generalitat is expected to regulate the sector to define it as an economic activity and thus establish a legal framework.
Since last January, the Guàrdia Urbana has notified 588 complaints of personal mobility vehicles and cycles of more than two wheels for commercial use due to non-compliance with the administrative requirements established in the Municipal Ordinance.
Most of the complaints (287) came for not complying with the regulations applied to pedal-assisted vehicles assimilated to a motor vehicle. It was also sanctioned for parking violations (253), as well as 39 complaints for administrative issues . Since last January, 255 personal mobility models in sharing mode (scooters and bikes) and 35 pedicabs have ended up in the Municipal Vehicle Depot.
Protect the pedestrian
The need to regularize the public space , very affected by the structural changes (some controversial) promoted by the council, the municipal officials argue, with these regulations, a desire to “protect the pedestrian, regulate and make the use of public space compatible “, indicates the City Council in a statement. With this they want to avoid “a distortion in the lives of the neighbors”. Currently, all pedicabs must be registered with the town hall, have the corresponding insurance and circulate through the spaces that correspond to them .
On the other hand, as has become customary since 2016, this summer road access to the streets of Ciutat Vella will be limited by municipal regulations. As a result, some areas where bicycles, scooters and all vehicles considered for personal mobility regularly circulate will be affected by passage restrictions. Thus, this type of vehicle will only be able to travel along two specific routes that will allow them to go around the district without having to cross it inside.
The determined areas are on the north-south axis from Plaça del Portal de la Pau – Paseo Colón – Paseo de Isabel II – Avenida del Marquès de l’Argentera – Paseo de Circumval • lació. On the east-west axis, Paseo Picasso – Paseo Lluis Companys and Paseo Pujades to Avenida Meridiana.