According to the transport ministry, the people of the Balearics undertake an average of 2.6 million "trips" each day. Of these, slightly under a third are on foot; 57% are by car. The rest are made up by public transport (10%) and cycling.
Car use in the Balearics is significantly greater than a national average of 42%. One region where it is notably lower is the Basque Country (36%). Of these car trips, 63% start and finish in the same municipality. The ministry says that they could be done by bike or by walking. Improvements for cyclists and pedestrians are therefore considered to be necessary as are those to public transport. This needs to be more competitive than private transport. At present, journey times by public transport are 40% longer than by car.
When it comes to tourists, the ministry estimates - based on a typical day in July - that they make 1.3 million trips a day. Slightly more than a third are in a hire car; 28% are on foot, 16% are on a public transport bus and 13% are by taxi. For train journeys there are only 0.4% and on bikes 0.2%. The ministry reckons that there are around 75,000 hire cars on the roads each day in high summer.
Transport minister Marc Pons and transport director-general Jaume Mateu are addressing this usage in the development of the strategic plan for mobility. There have to be measures for "safe and sustainable" public transport*, and the targets are to reduce car journeys by 20%, to increase public transport use from ten to fifteen per cent and to also increase the number of journeys by bike - up to nine per cent.
* Apropos safety and sustainability of public transport, Pons apologised for the latest bus fire (on Wednesday in Pollensa), adding that the fleet of buses is being renewed.
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The Island is far too reliant on the road network. Barcelona airport is linked to Barcelona by train and by the metro system, yet to get into Palma you have to go on the road (Bus, Taxi. Hire Car). The train network is a joke, only linking Palma to inland towns, and not many at that. Imagine if a train system linked Palma airport, Palma and Alcudia!!
find me an inclusive holiday that includes car hire. what a dangerous combination
Those making lots of money from the Tourists . Now own 4 x 4 Gas Guzzling Planet { Island } Polluters. Those that are Diesel powered are adding dangerous pollution. The thousands of Hire Cars that Flood the Island in the Season, cause chaos on the roads, and become much more deliverers of Diesel pollution. All Inclusive package deals , now include hire cars. But, I doubt anything will be done to control this affluent damage to Mallorca.
A rail link from the airport to the Placa Espana transport hub would cut a lot of traffic. The rail link from Placa Espana to the University was an expensive White Elephant.
Surely something better should be done with the trains? Why does the northern line terminate at Sa Pobla? Crazy. To get to Palma from Alcudia or Pollenca requires a car journey, taxi or the not so frequent buses which are often quite full (by the time they get to Alcudia anyway). No doubt this Govt will decide to fine and tax rather than create a coherent plan. Wouldn't some of the tourist tax be better spent if allocated to real transport improvements which will benefit everyone?