Melilla eases border traffic with new lane for bikes and scooters ahead of Eid and Marhaba

Security authorities in Melilla have introduced a dedicated lane for light transport vehicles at the border crossing between Melilla and Morocco. This new lane is designed to speed up the passage of motorcycles, mopeds, bicycles, and personal mobility vehicles (PMVs) such as electric scooters, according to the Spanish news agency EFE.

The police hope this measure will help reduce the long daily wait times at the Beni Ansar crossing, where lengthy queues of cars—often driven by Melilla residents entering Moroccan territory—regularly form.

The initiative comes just one week before Eid al-Adha, a major religious holiday for the Muslim community in Melilla, when many families travel to Morocco to celebrate.

Furthermore, the Marhaba (Crossing the Strait) operation is set to begin on June 15, marking the busiest period for border crossings in the city. This coincides with the arrival of travelers from European countries and Melilla residents returning to Morocco.

In this context, Fadela Mohatar, spokesperson for the Melilla local government, has called on the Spanish government to take urgent action to end what she described as «endless excessive queues» at the border. She also urged Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s government to negotiate an agreement with Morocco to ease the movement of both vehicles and travelers across the border.