Sharp Increase in Impounded Scooters
The number of electric scooters seized by Barcelona's municipal crane has risen by 28.7% between January and October 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, according to data provided by the City Council to TOT Barcelona. In the first ten months of this year, 2,990 personal mobility vehicles were taken to depots operated by BSM, the city’s mobility services company, up from 2,322 in the same period last year. This marks a significant acceleration in enforcement, particularly as seizures of bicycles have declined. From January to October 2026, 6,568 bicycles were impounded, a 16.6% decrease from the 7,875 removed in the same period in 2025.
Enforcement Campaign Targets Urban Safety
The rise in scooter seizures coincides with a citywide enforcement campaign by the Guàrdia Urbana (city police) aimed at reducing accidents involving cyclists and personal mobility vehicles (PMVs). Launched on 5th October 2026, the operation focuses on high-risk areas including the seafront in Ciutat Vella and Sant Martí, and junctions such as Provença and Enric Granados. Fourteen accident black spots were identified between March 2025 and February 2026, each recording more than three collisions within a 15-metre radius. The campaign forms part of Barcelona’s Road Safety Strategy 2030 and the Urban Mobility Plan (PMU) 2024, both aiming to halve traffic accident victims by 2030.
The proliferation of bicycles and PMVs has consolidated them as a new risk factor in the urban environment.
According to the Guàrdia Urbana, the campaign seeks to ensure compliance with traffic rules, improve safety for pedestrians, and reinforce responsibilities for motor vehicle drivers sharing roads with PMVs. Previous similar operations have generated over 1,000 incident reports per week.
Glovo Bikes Among Seized Vehicles
On 17th October 2026, TOT Barcelona observed an impound operation in Glòries Park, where both scooters and bicycles used by delivery workers, including those with Glovo backpacks, were confiscated. The incident follows a 2025 collision in Sant Antoni where a citizen was struck by a Glovo cyclist. While shared delivery bikes are frequently involved in infractions, the overall number of seized bicycles continues to fall, suggesting stricter controls may be influencing rider behaviour.
Historical Context Shows Rising Trend
The 2026 figures highlight a sharp upward trend in scooter seizures. Between 2019 and 2023, annual impoundments ranged from 323 to 517, according to a May 2024 review by TOT Barcelona using BSM data. The jump to nearly 3,000 in just ten months of 2026 indicates a dramatic shift in enforcement intensity or non-compliance. For residents, reclaiming an impounded scooter requires correcting all violations and paying associated fees. Under Barcelona’s procedures, unclaimed vehicles held for several months may be destroyed by authorised firms, a policy mirrored in neighbouring L'Hospitalet, where scooter seizures rose by 94.4% in the first nine months of 2026.
Sources: Tot Barcelona, Ajuntament de Barcelona, Barna.News News Desk.
