From this Thursday you can travel on the Titsa buses and the Metrotenerife wagons with a dog and without a carrier. Whoever wants to do it must follow a series of rules. You will have to get used to it because most users had no idea about the measure, others showed absolute indifference and there were even some who directly rejected it. Almost as many casuistry as travelers. Of course, of the dogs, no trace.
The first day of permission for all dogs to access the buses and trams of Tenerife without a carrier, it ended with a null presence of the animals. In 50 minutes this Thursday morning hundreds of people passed through the central Weyler chicharrera stop on 40 trams – up and down, in the direction of La Laguna and Intercambiador, that is, 80 in total – but not a single dog.
Starting this Thursday, it is now possible to travel with dogs weighing more than 10 kilos without a carrier in Titsa vehicles and light rail wagons, complying with a series of regulations. These are added to the dogs of less than 10 kilos that could already go on public transport but from now on they will no longer have the obligation to go in a carrier. Among the users, ignorance prevailed about the measures, the most absolute indifference and even a certain rejection. At least that was the feeling of those consulted by THE DAY in this communications hub at the confluence of Méndez Núñez and Galcerán streets with Rambla de Pulido. A regular movement of people, most of them on their way to work, but none with a dog.
The passengers. José Víctor is a worker, he is 36 years old and considers the measure even “somewhat unhygienic”. He believes that there will be problems with sectors of the population such as the elderly or pregnant women. He believes that public transport is designed for people and not for animals. He does not think so Sabrina, a 39-year-old student who applauds the measure. She gets off—first with a dog in Weyler in 50 minutes—with her dog Max hers. She has been carrying him in her carrier for years, which she clarifies “he has never liked you much.” He weighs eight and a half kilos and is considered a small breed. very manageable. Nearby are Andrea (26 years old) and Lionel (27), a young couple of workers who have a dog at home and to whom the initiative seems “very good” José, a waiter, 41 years old, has two dogs, but is not very supportive to travel with them on public transport. He considers that it is not a good place for that. Natividad, 51, a cleaner, thinks, for her part, that she “depends on how the dog behaves; that is, the owner because the animal is going to repeat what the person does.
He values guide dogs for blind people as “untouchable” in this sense. Beatriz, 48 years old, currently on leave, she also has a hearing disability. She almost gets emotional when she is told the news because she didn’t know. Next to her is Tete de ella, her unconditional companion who, in addition, helps her with her orientation and daily life. She explains: “I live in La Laguna and sometimes I get tired of walking with him. This is going to come in very handy.” Tete is a product of mixed races and weighs about fifteen kilos. In public transport she must go with a muzzle and a short leash.
The company. “At the moment we have no incidents and the truth is that I have no news of dogs on the tram.” This was stated this Thursday afternoon by Santiago Correa Melián, Head of Communication for Metrotenerife –since the inauguration of the tram in June 2007–. He explained that “the main measures, which are those that the Cabildo has indicated to us, we have installed on the mupis (advertising supports) and the interior of the wagons.” Likewise, the location of each dog has been marked inside the vehicles. Correa stresses: “We have complied.” In the company they have worked quickly to have everything ready because just a few days ago they were informed that the regulations would come into force on June 1. This despite the fact that they were approved by the plenary session of the Cabildo de Tenerife in January 2022. Santiago Correa values: “This is a matter of custom, coexistence and education.” He understands that dog owners “have gotten a lot better at civility in the last few years. As always they are the key because their behavior will mark that of the animal. He explains that the reviewers will play a merely informative role without penalizing.
Workers. «At the moment today (for this Thursday) only one accident in the Engineers Roundabout with a truck. Of the dogs, nothing at all ». It is assured by Luis Marrero, president of the Works Committee of the public company of the Cabildo. He adds that “time will tell”, but it is critical because he believes that “as the measure develops, the deficiencies will begin to be seen.” He stresses: “This issue has not been worked on correctly in the Health and Safety Committee.” Tramway and bus workers have shown their skepticism, not because the dogs enter themselves but because they understand that “there has been a lack of clarity about the regulations.” They reject that “the responsibility of allowing the animal to enter or not falls on us.”
Five basic rules. There are five basic rules for the access of dogs to public transport. The first premise is only one for each tram or bus. It must go with a muzzle, a short leash and in the area marked for the animal – the person responsible for its actions will be the carrier – never in a seat. In addition, the dog must travel in the last car with double doors and always in the direction of travel of the tram. It is forbidden for dogs without a carrier to travel during peak hours: Monday to Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Given these measures, many users have used social networks to complain about the time limitation and also that only one dog can travel. The company justifies that it wants to avoid problems at peak times. The area in which dogs must travel and their number are also limited to relieve people allergic to these animals; they will be warned to sit and occupy the front of the vehicle.
