Canarian Coalition proposes free access for pets to public transport

In Europe

Bueno sums up that “unlike many European cities, most Spanish public transport places many obstacles to traveling dogs”. Especially dogs weighing more than ten kilos. On the contrary, Europe moves in favor of the dog traveling on public transport. For example, “in Germany, the dog is one more and can access any means of transport.” And, he continues, “in the United Kingdom it is common to travel with dogs on buses, on a leash.” Finally, Stockholm “is a small paradise for urbanites with pets that allow dogs and cats to travel in their buses without paying a ticket.” Well, he takes as his own the phrase of a user of the bus: “I don’t understand why an educated dog can’t travel on public transport.” The passengers themselves make proposals such as restricting the travel times of the dog on public transport to certain strips, with less influx of public, could be a solution for the animal to travel calmly and without disturbing.

Also in Spain

Fortunately, it continues Well, “There are already cities in Spain that accept pets on public transport”. And they do so “without the need for a carrier, a necessary measure to facilitate sustainable and day-to-day mobility, which helps to avoid abandonment.” Cartagena, Donostia, Fuengirola, Irún, Ourense, Palma de Mallorca and Sant Cugat del Vallès are the first cities that have taken the step, although each one applies a different policy, more or less restrictive. In addition, Alcoi and Mérida modified the municipal ordinance years ago to allow companion dogs on public transport, but in practice this measure is still not applied. Jaén has joined these two in July 2021, but a month later, it had not yet been applied. The set of rules for access of dogs to public transport that are applied in these cities range from having the health documentation up to date to that the animal is clean and tied with a short leash. Some cities require user liability insurance. The caretaker of the animal is responsible for any incident or damage that occurs in the vehicle. The dog must wear a muzzle (except in Donostia where only small dogs in arms are accepted. Some places limit the maximum size of the dog or do not allow bitches in heat or potentially dangerous dogs (PPP). In some cities it is prohibited to bring animals at rush hours or in night services and the number of dogs per vehicle is limited.To bring the dog up you pay an additional ticket of 0.30 euros in Palma (except those that go in a carrier) and 0.57 in Fuengirola In the rest, nothing is paid. Ourense prepares a dog card that must be requested from the City Council to be able to take the dog on the bus. In towns such as Irun, the way to resolve conflicts that may arise is stipulated. In this sense, its regulations establishes that at the moment in which a traveler feels bothered (allergic reactions, smells or noises) due to the conditions of an animal and has boarded before the caretaker, the latter will have to transfer it to another area vehicle. In Donostia it is understood that, in general, the person who first accesses the bus has priority. In case of discrepancies, the driver’s discretion prevails.

and in Tenerife

Situation in public transport in Tenerife. The access of pets to public transport in Tenerife has to advance in parallel with the demands of today’s society in line with what is already a reality in many European cities. This is another key axis in the CC motion. The proponent explains: “The idea is that a person in any city or town on the Island goes out for a walk with their dog and can stop for a drink on a terrace, enter an establishment or manage their DNI in a public building where animals are welcome ”. In the afternoon, “tired”, says Bueno “it would be desirable that we and our 24 kilo dog could return home on the tram, the bus or a taxi, without discrimination based on the weight or the breed of the animal. Good lists the progress of recent years. Thus, since October 2015, Titsa already allows pets access to the interior of the buses in their carrier, rigid or not, without exceeding the measurements of 60x35x35 or ten kilos in weight. Guide dogs duly documented can also access the public transport service. Since May 2016, the Tenerife Tram allows traveling with guide dogs and those domestic and non-dangerous animals that are transported in small receptacles and conveniently prepared so that they do not dirty or bother other users.

TaxiCan

In October 2018, the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council presented the initiative called ‘TaxiCan’, which allows professionals in the sector to freely and voluntarily extend their services to their clients’ pets. In its eagerness to reinforce the status of an animal-friendly city, the Consistory approved this measure last March, to be the first municipality in the Canary Islands to offer this possibility. The measure does not discriminate, for example, between race and size. of the dogs that will travel in taxis, although it does specify a series of mandatory rules. Antolín Bueno emphasizes: “Within the objective of turning Tenerife into a animal friendly island, It is necessary to advance in those measures that allow pets and their owners to have sustainable mobility, so the rules that regulate the access of animals to public transport must be adapted and updated”. The counselor adds another idea: “That they serve to encourage the use by citizens of public transport as opposed to private, and help combat the serious problems of mobility and saturation on our roads.

The motion requests, first of all, “to support and promote public and private initiatives aimed at eliminating the current restrictions that prevent the free and sustainable mobility of pet animals and their owners”. It also requests the public companies Titsa and Metrotenerife “to adequacy of regulations and the adaptation of buses and trams that allow free access for pets, without discriminating by race and size. Finally, transfer this agreement and collaborate with the Island Councils that require it, “to achieve the implementation in the municipal spheres and competences, of the rules and measures that allow free access of pets to means of public transport of their powers”.