Tenerife’s public transport is preparing to experience a notable increase in users thanks to its free nature. The first two days of the year, with the reduced activity typical of these dates, have developed without setbacks, as explained by the Mobility Minister of the Council of Tenerife, Enrique Arriaga, and as this newspaper was able to verify in the interchanges of the Metropolitan Area. However, yesterday afternoon an increase in activity was already perceived. The real upturn is expected from next week, in step with the reactivation of teaching activity and with the end of the Christmas holidays in other areas.
Specific, Arriaga calculated that the rise in Tenerife could be 15%. «The general estimate at the level of the Canary Islands is a 4% increase. We have it higher, about an approximately 15% increase in users who are going to switch to free transport », he indicated. And you have to remember that this follows the previous growth due to the 50% discount.
How much could that rise that comes in absolute terms mean? In the case of Transportes Interurbanos de Tenerife Sociedad Anónima (Titsa), it transported 36.6 million users in 2021, while in 2022, and until October, it registered 38.9 million; in November they were 4.7, and, if a similar figure were contemplated in December, we would be talking about 48.3 throughout the year. Following this projection, an additional 15% would mean that only the buses will have more than 55 million users. A very relevant fact if one takes into account that in 2015 it was at 32.7 million and that in 2020, with the pandemic, it fell to 27.1. As for the tram, the latest closed figures available are from 2021, when it reached 12.5 million passengers. Now, and if it experienced the aforementioned 15% growth, it would stand at 14.4 million. In total there could be some 69 million passengers with these increases (7 million on the bus and almost 2 on the tram).
“What we do not know is exactly on which lines this increase will take place. We imagine that it will be very similar to when it went up with the 50% discount. Right now we are at the expense of seeing when the activity begins at 100% from the 9th to see in which lines there will be the greatest increase, “said Arriaga. “In these lines we will have to put reinforcements at certain times to ensure that the service is provided adequately,” he added.
According to the island vice-president, they have been two atypical days to start with free. «The first day was a Sunday and, on top of that, New Year. The incidents were minimal. Today this increase has not been noticed much either. There has been a queue at some station to purchase these season tickets, but in terms of transport itself it has not been too noticeable because we are on day 2, at Christmas parties. When we really expect that big jump in new users is on the 9th, which is when classes will start and work activity will resume at 100%, “he pointed out at noon yesterday.
The image that was palpable during the morning in the surroundings of the La Laguna Interchange hunted with its manifestations. There was bustle, but without excesses. Of course, at least the users consulted did not seem to be very aware of the new measure. «The truth is that I don’t know very well. I’ve heard that it’s going to be free, but I haven’t bothered to find out too much because I don’t use it much either, only from time to time for specific routes, and I heard in the past that you have to make a minimum of trips to get it free. I’m going to see if I take a good look at it,” said David González, 36, in the vicinity of the Laguna Interchange.
Indeed, there is a minimum number of journeys and this is fifteen. Regarding this aspect, Arriaga pointed out this Monday that transshipments also count. In other words, a trip in which a transfer is made will count as two trips for the purpose of reaching that number of fifteen. «What we are looking for is to facilitate compliance with the requirement, not to hinder. Just like, if someone is missing a journey, they take the tram at one stop and get off at the next, and they would already have another journey granted. Therefore, it is not difficult to be able to comply with the fifteen trips, “said Arriaga.
«There are people who are going to the stations to get the fertilizer. We have not seen that there is much confusion when using it either. Those who have already been using it know perfectly well how it works and those who have incorporated new ones are explained. In any case, the procedure is very simple,” said the Ciudadanos leader.
Carmen, another of the consulted users, was happy. “This is going to be a help. I don’t have a car and I travel a lot by bus and the truth is a saving”, said this neighbor of the Padre Anchieta Industrial Estate. “I’m glad they put it up,” she added. José de la Rosa, another traveler who was on his way to the La Laguna Interchange yesterday morning, was more doubtful. «I have a normal bonus. Is this also free? », He expressed. And do you support the measure? «The normal thing would be to say yes, that if it is free, better. But to what extent is it positive? I do not have it so clear. There could be someone who saves money, but the thing is that gasoline is skyrocketing, power is skyrocketing, electricity is very expensive… This can help a little, but we are fatal, “reflected this passenger.
