E-scooter riders in Spain now need a helmet, insurance and a spot on the official register, yet nobody checks whether they can actually ride their vehicle properly or handle the traffic on the road. A Málaga surgeon who operates on riders after the worst crashes thinks that gap needs closing.

A surgeon wants riders tested like other road users 

Rafael López Arévalo, head of orthopaedic surgery and traumatology at Hospital Quirónsalud Málaga, believes e-scooter riders should have to pass a test comparable to the ones other road users face before they head out among cars, buses and vans.

His case is built on what he’s seeing in theatre. He estimates that 30 to 40 per cent of the e-scooter accident patients his team treats end up needing surgery, with some of the more complex fractures potentially affecting their ability to work further down the line.

That’s an estimate for the patients who reach his team, though, and not a figure for every scooter crash in Málaga. Earlier University of Málaga research found bruising was by far the most common injury among scooter patients seen in emergency departments. 

Riders are sharing the road with cars

Since January 2021, e-scooters have been banned from pavements across Spain and capped at 25km/h, which moved riders off the pavement and onto the road alongside motor traffic. López Arévalo’s argument is about whether riders really understand what that involves. Plenty of people hop on with the attitude of ‘it’s only a scooter, how hard can it be?’, and a test is designed to challenge exactly that assumption. 

For parents whose teenagers ride to school, commuters weaving through the city and residents stepping off the kerb as a scooter comes the other way, it’s a question that comes up every single day.

What the university research did and didn’t find 

The University of Málaga (UMA) study behind EWN’s August coverage analysed more than 400 patients treated in emergency departments between 2018 and 2022, and it also looked at what changed once scooters moved onto the road.

Pedestrians being knocked down fell from 10.9 per cent of cases to 5.2 per cent, while collisions with motor vehicles rose from 8.8 per cent to 18 per cent. However, the researchers said in their January release that they hadn’t seen any increase in the overall severity of injuries, despite those extra collisions.

So the research doesn’t show that moving riders onto the road made injuries worse. The surgeon’s estimate is a separate observation, based on the patients his own team is treating now.

Helmets are compulsory, but there’s still no test 

Since Thursday October 1, riders across Spain have had to wear a certified helmet, with fines of around €200 for those who don’t. The scooter itself must also be registered with the DGT (Spain’s traffic authority) and insured. However, there’s still no test or licence needed to ride one. 

Until that changes, riders’ best protection is the helmet and the 25km/h limit they’re already bound by. UMA’s researchers go a step further and recommend full-face helmets, as so many of the fractures they recorded were to the face and jaw.

La Cala Lions have swapped their familiar blue shirts for show-stopping costumes in a hilarious new 2027 calendar that recreates some of the best-loved musicals of stage and screen.

Titled ‘La Cala’nder Girls!, the calendar features members of the Mijas-area charity club posing as characters from famous productions including Sister Act, The Sound of Music and Mamma Mia!. The big question is whether you can work out which Lion is which!

Known for their tireless fundraising for local good causes and for bringing British expats and Spanish residents together, the Lions have come up with a fun way to raise money while giving supporters something to smile about throughout the coming year.

A Christmas present with a difference

With Christmas approaching, the calendar could be the perfect stocking filler or present for anyone who knows the Lions and their work in the local community.

Production of the calendar has been supported by sponsors Bobby Jones and Spikes, Ibex Insurance, Bar Tuta, Legends Bar and Bridges Bar, whose backing is celebrated through this light-hearted project.

La Cala Lions president for 2026/27, Sandie Tavendale, paid tribute to the people who helped make the calendar possible, particularly John Sharples and Lynne Armitage, whose time and commitment were essential to the project.

She also thanked the club’s volunteers, whose work keeps its charity shops and fundraising activities running successfully, as well as the sponsors who continue to support its efforts.

Where to get your 2027 calendar

The ‘La Cala’nder Girls! 2027 calendar is available from the La Cala Lions Charity Shop in La Cala de Mijas and wherever members of the Lions are out and about, for just €10.

Whether you are a regular supporter, a local resident or simply looking for an amusing Christmas gift, the calendar offers a chance to enjoy some musical theatre nostalgia while supporting the club’s charitable work.

And with a different showbiz-inspired picture to enjoy as the months pass, what better way to start 2027?

Dancing for Dementia

Don’t forget that on October 22 there is Strictly Olivia’s, Dancing for Dementia, fundraising event for the Lions Alzheimers Group. There will be dinner, dancing & entertainment, for a fantastic fundraiser.

Latin American & Ballroom Dancing display with the sensational Alberto Andrada, professional dancer with his enigmatic and glamorous students Jaks and Renate. Join in with Alberto on the Dance floor later and learn some sexy dance moves!

Tickets cost just €60 (€10 of which goes directly to the charity). Call +34 952 494 935 to reserve, or WhatsApp +34 608 784 367. 7 o’clock sharp start.

If you have tried booking a flight to or from Spain this year, you may have noticed that the appetite for air travel has not gone away, even as airlines face rising fuel bills and uncertainty over the conflict in the Middle East. Millions of passengers have continued to pass through the country’s airports, with budget airlines playing a major role in keeping traffic moving.

Spain’s airports handled a record 257.2 million passengers between January and September 2026, an increase of 4.1 per cent compared with the same period last year. The latest figures underline how strongly low-cost carriers have contributed to demand during the busy summer travel season.

Ryanair leads the low-cost race

Ryanair remained Spain’s busiest low-cost airline during the July-to-September period, carrying 18.51 million passengers, up 1.9 per cent on the previous year. Vueling followed with 10.69 million, an increase of 5.4 per cent, while easyJet carried six million, up 1.2 per cent. The strongest growth came from smaller competitors. Wizz Air increased passenger numbers by 43.7 per cent, reaching the top ranks of airlines operating in Spain.

Volotea grew by 17.5 per cent, Jet2 by 10 per cent and Iberia Express by 9.4 per cent. The figures show that the summer increase was not confined to Spain’s three biggest low-cost operators. The airlines have benefited from demand for flights linking Spain with other European countries, including holiday destinations. Spain has also attracted travellers seeking a destination perceived as safer amid geopolitical instability, according to the Cinco Días report.

Fuel costs put pressure on airlines

The rise in passenger numbers has come as airlines contend with a steep increase in operating costs. European jet fuel prices rose by 122 per cent over a year, according to indices compiled by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and cited by Cinco Días. The conflict in the Middle East has added to uncertainty over fuel prices and airline planning.

The pressure is already shaping decisions. Ryanair has adjusted capacity at several regional Spanish airports while focusing on larger airports and popular sun-and-beach destinations. IAG, the parent company of Iberia and Vueling, has also sought to contain capacity to limit the impact of higher kerosene costs.

The financial strain is particularly visible among smaller operators. Wizz Air reported losses for its first fiscal quarter, which ended in June, while Volotea has entered preliminary creditor-protection proceedings as it works to restructure its debt. Both still ranked among the 20 largest airline operators in Spain during the summer period.

Spanish airports continue to grow

The increase in low-cost traffic formed part of a wider rise across Aena’s Spanish airport network. In September alone, airports handled 31.7 million passengers, 4.2 per cent more than in the same month of 2025. Aircraft movements rose by 5.3 per cent, although freight volumes fell by 5.7 per cent.

Madrid-Barajas recorded 6.3 million passengers in September, up 6.6 per cent year on year. Barcelona-El Prat handled 5.4 million, while Palma de Mallorca recorded 4.2 million. Málaga-Costa del Sol also saw a strong month, with 2.8 million passengers, an increase of 6.8 per cent.

For travellers, the figures show that demand for flights to and from Spain remained strong through the main summer season. For airlines, however, more passengers have not removed the challenge of keeping flights profitable as fuel and geopolitical risks continue to weigh on the industry.