“This way we will have a clear diagnosis of the problems we are suffering and we will be able to act and take tough measures”, he announced on Tuesday. In practice, this could mean capping the island’s vehicle fleet, something that Galmés has not ruled out, saying that they are considering regulating “the arrival of all types of vehicles during the high season”.
He also pointed out that, if this were to be done, there would be “exceptions for residents and goods vehicles so as not to affect supply”. Any decision taken by the Council of Mallorca will have to be backed up by the data in the report, which will be drawn up by the institution’s technicians, who will consult their own data and that of other public bodies and organisations.
“If the study finally indicates that we must take action, we will do so hand in hand with the sectors involved, as the Council of Ibiza (also governed by the PP and which has proposed similar limits) has done. We will not take any measure without dialogue and consensus,” Galmés stressed.
Asked whether a limitation on the number of vehicles could be established, as the Formentera council has already done, the president responded that Mallorca’s situation is more complex and that the study commissioned will have to analyse all roads and the metropolitan area of Palma, although he insisted that they do not rule out any type of solution.
Galmés also said that they are in talks with the Transport Ministry because “public transport is not proving an effective alternative to private transport, so that will have to be improved”.
9 comments
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I live 5km from Soller up a steep hill so am reliant on a car for shopping etc. From June-September the town is chock-a-block with parking completely full, and at walking pace (30 minutes to get from the lower to upper roundabouts). The entire by-pass road is parked solid both sides, and two out of three cars have rental stickers. They are all invariably large, shiny and badly driven on our small streets, and parked taking extra spaces. The locals drive older smaller cars, often scratched, and are not afraid to squeeze them into tight spots. I avoid town during these months. Once a week is too much!
In the town where I live there is a free large parking area. 10 years or less ago it was easy to find a parking spot during day or the evening, now it's always full, not a chance to park there, not even during the winter. This town is not within any tourist area and never has been. So blaming the rental market for ALL increase of traffic is not the only problem.
Public transport needs to be improved significantly, the train lines must go into all towns island wide.
@DONALD JUMP. I DO NOT HAVE A WIFE. AND NEVER WANT ONE AGAIN!!! THE POLICIA PUT NO PARKING SIGNS NEXT TO MY CAR. WHILST I WAS VERY ILL. THEY TOOK THE CAR AWAY. I DO NOT WANT IT BACK!!!. SUCH LOVELY POLICIA AND GUARDIIA HERE!!!!
Stan The ManThere are far too many local cars on the roads but easier to blame the rental ones. No one dare tackle the amount of increase of cars of the locals, that's where the problem is.
Charles Dalrymple-ChumleyNo tourists with some kind of sense will ever drive at peak times. I believe they are not the problem but the locals who have both two and three cars within the families. Always blaming the rental cars is just a cheap option.
Stan The ManTake one off your wife and share one between you. Do your bit.
Restrict rental cars and large goods vans to enter Palma at certain times. Improve public transport to be more efficient. Allow residents with garages/private parking spaces unlimited access in and out of Palma.
There are far to many cars and rental cars on the roads. A serious investigation into the numbers , along with equally very serious controls of the volume of traffic on the roads