Serious E-Scooter Accident in Palma: More Than Just an Accident?

Serious Accident on Calle Eusebi Estada: A Wake-Up Call for Palma

On the early morning of November 13, a short intersection in Palma turned the everyday commuter chaos into a silent moment of shock: on Calle Eusebi Estada a car collided with a 25-year-old e-scooter rider. Witnesses speak of a loud impact, screeching tires and the typical sirens that cut through the November air. The woman was taken to hospital with serious injuries; the police are investigating.

The brief account of what happened reads almost like a bad dream: at around 8:15 a.m. the rider is said to have entered the intersection on a red light. She apparently wore no helmet and no noticeable reflectors. Whether this increased the severity of her injuries is one of several questions now on the table.

More Than an Accident — a Symptom

Such incidents do not occur in a vacuum. In Palma, where the morning wind from the sea often still brings a cool saltiness and the streets slowly wake after the night's quiet, e-scooters feel to many like a practical solution: fast, flexible, cheap. But cities do not adapt to the new traffic reality overnight. At many intersections there is no clear separation between cars, bikes and scooters; markings are faded, traffic light timing is set for pedestrians and cars, not micromobility.

One aspect that rarely makes the headlines is the allocation of responsibilities. Who ensures that rented scooters are technically safe? Who checks whether users were informed about traffic rules before riding? And: how do city planning, the police and providers coordinate so that these vehicles are safely integrated into traffic?

Enforcement, Infrastructure, Culture — the Three Construction Sites

First: enforcement. The Policía Local is present, but not everywhere at once. At critical intersections like Calle Eusebi Estada authorities often react rather than proactively regulate. Second: infrastructure. A network of clearly marked bike and scooter lanes would be obvious — but that requires space and planning. Some residents want exactly that, others fear losing parking spaces. Third: a culture of protection. Helmets, reflectors and defensive riding are not matters of fashion but lifesavers. In Palma awareness is still too fragmented: some wear helmets, many do not.

Then there is the question of speed limits and technology: some e-scooters can reach speeds that are dangerous in urban areas. Could mandatory speed limiters in sensitive zones help? Probably yes — but that would require coordinated action by the city and providers.

What to Do? Concrete Steps Instead of Good Intentions

The discussion must not stop at emotional appeals. Mallorca needs concrete, feasible measures. Proposals that could show immediate effect:

- Targeted police presence: Checks at accident hotspots and during peak hours — not just speed cameras, but focused on on-site education.

- Visible protection requirements: Mandatory reflectors and a strong recommendation or even loan helmets at rental stations. A small hurdle, a big effect.

- Infrastructure prioritization: Faster creation of protected bike/scooter lanes on main routes and at intersections with high conflict potential.

- Technical restrictions: Geofencing and speed limits in sensitive zones — parking areas, pedestrian zones, school routes.

- Transparency and data: A unified reporting and data system for micromobility accidents so politics and administration can act in a targeted way.

A Collective Task

Alongside the authorities, it is neighbors, commuters, bus drivers and delivery workers who share the streets every day. The images from the accident — people covering the injured woman with a blanket, the smell of diesel, the flashing warning lights — stay in the memory. They are also an incentive: for more consideration, better planning and more decisive action.

The police ask for witness statements and video material to clarify the sequence of events. Many in the neighborhood hope for the injured woman's recovery. For Palma, the task remains to learn from this misfortune and make the city a bit safer. One second of inattention is enough, but together we can make sure it is not.

Practical advice at the end: If you ride a scooter in Palma: wear a helmet, turn on lights, use reflectors. And if you drive a vehicle: widen your field of view — small riders are often hard to see.