More than 87,000 people benefited from free public transport in Tenerife during the first fifteen days of its establishment as of last day 1. The Councilor for Mobility of the Cabildo and, in addition, president of Titsa and Metrotenerife, Enrique Arriaga, explains that although this figure is almost four times that obtained in the same period of 2022, “The buses and trams are not collapsing, because the necessary measures are taken to provide a quality service.”
The exact number of refills registered in the monthly transport passes in both Cabildo companies up to the 15th was a total of 87,265, a figure that almost quadrupled that registered in the same period of the previous year, which placed sales at 22,932.
Arriaga explains that the increase in users began to be noticed from the beginning of the free period, but in the last few days has been intensified by the end of the Christmas holidays. Even so, the also vice president of the Cabildo assures that “there is no collapse and the quality of the service is maintained.”
Arriaga details that “although all the subscriptions have exponentially increased their recharges, the one that has done so the most is the senior one.” The bonus for the elderly has gone from 449 sales in the first fortnight of 2022, to 3,478 during the last fortnight, “a figure that is almost eight times higher.”
Following the order of sales, the second that has obtained the greatest growth has been the Canary Islands resident bond that has gone from 6,985 recharges in January 2022, to 38,444 in the last fortnight, 450% more.
5,800
commuters more daily
The average increase in passengers each day from January 1 to 15 was 5,800 in the different public transport operators in Tenerife. The effects, without a doubt, of gratuity.
3,478
senior subscriptions
The elderly have been the ones who have responded the most and best to the offer of free transport. In this way, they went from 449 in the first half of 2022 to 3,478 now.
With similar data, it obtained the season ticket for people with disabilities, which quintupled its sales from 201 to 1,012. In the case of the youth subscription, which is the one with the lowest increase, it obtained 44,331 recharges since the beginning of the free subscription, which is equivalent to three times the sales of the same period of 2022, which were 15,297.
The average number of passengers each day on public transport has increased by 5,800 as a result of dividing those more than 87,000 of the global by the first fifteen dates of free validity.
More step frequencies
The insular director of Mobility, José Alberto León, recalls that “in Metrotenerife the frequencies of trams have increased at peak times and that Titsa is gradually incorporating new drivers and buses, all with the aim of guaranteeing a good service”. Secondly, León stresses that “after this first month of application of the rate, those who wish to maintain it must comply with the stipulated number of trips to be considered a frequent user, which is set at 15”.
It is really route 16 that guarantees free renewal. A single journey is already a journey, even if it is from one tram stop to another. It is recommended to count them although the majority of these regular users far exceeds the limit number.
The request for registered titles for both buses and trams can be made through the TenMas website. It has an issuance cost of 5 euros that is paid at the time of collection. This can be done physically at the Interchange stations or Metrotenerife offices ten days after the request. To carry out this procedure, a photograph of the user is necessary, as well as one of their identity document on both sides, since it is a personal and non-transferable voucher.
