Catalan town no longer knows 'what to do' about illegal motorcycle races 

Tossa de Mar, located on the Costa Brava north of Barcelona, says it no longer knows "what to do" to stop illegal motorcycle races on the roads surrounding the town.  

Every Sunday, hundreds of motorcyclists gather to take part in illegal races frequently resulting in accidents, while other bikers film the action and later post on social media. 

The winding roads from Tossa de Mar to Lloret de Mar serve as the main access routes in and out of the town. Martí Pujals, the mayor of Tossa, says that even increased controls by the Catalan police force, the Mossos d'Esquadra, have not managed to put a stop to the races. 

Thus, the council is sounding an alarm to authorities and the wider world, saying they have been facing this problem for a long time.  

For several years, the council has been working with the Catalan Traffic Service (SCT) and the police to increase controls and prevent "reckless and dangerous behavior." These efforts have eventually resulted in more surveillance, speed cameras, and aerial monitoring by helicopter, but they haven't been enough to stop the bikers from gathering on the roads surrounding Tossa de Mar every Sunday.  

Numbers can reach "up to 300 motorbikes," grouped at several lookout points. According to mayor Pujals, the problem is the riders who are dangerously overtaking other vehicles while racing down the roads. Pujals admits authorities "no longer know what to do," about the situation, calling it "unsustainable and serious."  

He also points out that accidents happen constantly near the entrances and exits to residential areas along the two roads. "We have residents driving out slowly who suddenly encounter people going at very high speeds. We’re having accidents nearly every week.”  

“I’ve complained to the Traffic Department, the Mossos, the Catalan government. I really don’t know what else to do," Pujals added.  

The mayor explained that the government is conducting a study to improve access to residential areas in hopes of reducing accidents. Reducing this is especially important as in summer, the traffic on these roads increases significantly.  

Pujals also stressed that beyond the "physical harm," accidents also cause major traffic jams on the already narrow roads. "This creates a whole set of negative consequences that really hurt us. We’ve had to close the road at times, which means people can’t get in, restaurant bookings are canceled, and there are other disruptions," the mayor said.