Scooter rider killed by bus

Young woman on a scooter was hit by a bus in Benidorm

A 29-YEAR-OLD Spanish woman on her way to work on her electric scooter died on Tuesday morning after she was hit by a bus that invaded the cycle lane in the pictured Poniente area of Benidorm.

The fatal accident, that hit national headlines, is the first death of a scooter rider in Alicante province in such circumstances.

A SAMU ambulance team with a doctor were quickly on the scene, but unfortunately, all they could do was certify her death. A full investigation into the incident is underway.

EARLY on Tuesday morning, a 29-year-old Spanish woman was on her way to work at a local help centre when an intercity bus drove into her as she was riding her electric scooter along Avenida Villajoyosa in the Poniente area of Benidorm. This is the first death of a scooter rider in Alicante province.

The accident occurred at 08.40 where Calle Murtal joins Avenida Villajoyosa in Poniente. It is alleged that the victim was travelling correctly along the bike lane when the bus invaded the lane as it prepared to turn into Calle Murtal, causing the fatal accident.

An emergency ambulance (SAMU) team with a doctor were quickly on the scene, but all they could do was certify her death.

Local police are investigating the exact cause of the crash, and as part of those inquiries officers are checking the vehicle’s tachograph for data.

The young woman, identified as Maica C.M, was travelling to her work at Benidorm’s ‘Nos Importas’ multiservice centre. She was wearing her work vest when the fatal accident occurred.

The creation of bike lanes in Benidorm has not been without controversy amongst cyclists and car drivers, the reason being that several of these lanes go straight down the centre of the road and there are no physical barriers to keep users safe from traffic.

Some cyclists have said they do feel safe using them, though they tend to take extra precautions as there are drivers who do not respect traffic signs. Following this accident a few users have raised their voices on social networks to say that an accident like this was bound to occur sooner or later.

The use of scooters has divided opinions in Benidorm. Last year a bylaw came into force that regulates the use of this type of vehicle, stating that electric scooters cannot circulate on pedestrian streets, pavements or cycle lanes located on pavements, but they can use cycle lanes marked on roads, as long as they respect the speed limit. Personal mobility scooters are allowed on the Levante promenade road. They are also allowed in parks as long as they travel no faster than a pedestrian.

Several other towns in the province are still lacking specific regulations for this type of personal transport.