A concept by two students from the University of La Laguna (ULL) has led the Cabildo de Tenerife to announce the implementation later this year of shuttle buses to facilitate transportation for students living in the South.
Confirmed by the Mobility councillor, Eulalia García (CC), after meeting with these two students, accepting their proposal, and thanking them for contributing to solving one of Tenerife’s main issues: mobility.
It all started with third-year students of the Business Administration Degree at ULL David Bonalde and Andrea Carrero. Their proposal stems from their own personal experience, as residents of Adeje and San Miguel de Abona, who each day have to commute between four to six hours to and from their homes to the University.
When they found out that the company Titsa had created shuttle lines with the Northern municipalities, the 606 and 608, they thought a similar measure could be implemented for the South. Therefore, they drafted a very detailed proposal. The shuttles are lines that operate mainly during peak hours and reduce the number of stops for a faster and more efficient journey.
David Bonalde and Andrea Carrero, alongside the Minister of Mobility, Eulalia García. / E. D.
The proposal from David and Andrea garnered over 2,300 student signatures and over 2,500 supports through a survey. Even the rector of the University of La Laguna, Francisco García, signed a letter to help push the proposal forward. And it has been achieved. “It is a debt we owe to students residing in the South,” stated the councillor, who confirmed: “There will be a university shuttle bus from the South in the next academic year. We are in the process of defining the route.”
The proposal from David and Andrea to create shuttle lines from the South to the University gathered over 2,300 student signatures and over 2,500 supports through a survey
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After learning about the initiative of these two students from Tenerife, Eulalia García met with them. It was on the 14th of February. David and Andrea presented their shuttle implementation proposal, which included data justifying this service. “It’s great work. I personally congratulated them. The involvement of the entire university community in the mobility issue is very important,” emphasized the member of the Tenerife Government.
At that time, García informed them that she would work on this idea. Finally, this Thursday she confirmed that it will be rolled out. “To date, we have worked on improving multiple lines,” explained Eulalia García, to specify: “As part of these improvements, in the current academic year, we launched shuttle buses from the North to the University, the 606 and 608. With the new resources, we will also launch those from the South.”
David Bonalde and Andrea Carrero propose two possible routes for these new lines, as reported by ULL in a statement. The first suggests the route ends at the La Laguna Interchange, allowing for more efficient connection with other bus routes and the tram system. This new line would depart from Costa Adeje and make key stops such as Los Cristianos, San Isidro, Güímar, and Candelaria, with scheduled departures every 25 or 30 minutes to cater to passengers’ needs.
New Titsa buses for public transportation on the Island. / María Pisaca
The second proposed route would be more direct, with the same stops as the previous one, but directly reaching the university campus, similar to the existing 606 and 608 shuttle lines, which depart from the northern municipalities and end their route at the General Classroom Building. It also proposes implementing only one schedule to arrive at the University (8:30 am), and another to depart (14:00), and, for the afternoon shift, an arrival at the campus at 3:00 pm and departure starting from 8:30 pm.
The data provided by these students is a strong endorsement. For example, out of the 19,335 students at the University of La Laguna, 3,311 come from the South and 3,846 from the North. That is, there is less than a 3% difference between both areas and, therefore, according to these two young individuals, “it should be considered fair for students from both areas to have equal rights.” “It is a matter of ethics and justice, the fundamental right of every person to enjoy the same benefits as the rest of the citizens.”
The data provided by these students is a strong endorsement:
Out of the 19,335 students at the University of La Laguna, 3,311 come from the South area and 3,846 from the North.
Bonalde and Carrero list other advantages of implementing these shuttle services, such as saving money for families of students from the South by avoiding the cost of accommodation, meals, and fuel. Additionally, they would facilitate tourists’ access to La Laguna through a more sustainable transport option; help reduce rental prices in La Laguna by decreasing the demand for apartments by students; contribute to decongest existing routes; and reduce the use of private vehicles on the roads.
The Mobility councillor assures that she will remain in contact with David and Andrea: “They are carrying out an important awareness-raising work in the university community on an issue that concerns all men and women from Tenerife. I hope that they will eventually carry out a final degree project related to public transport for which I offer all the help and data we can provide.” The councillor also offered them the possibility of doing internships at Titsa.
These South shuttle lines to ULL will be made possible because the Tenerife Island Council is increasing its fleet of vehicles. They have just received 75 out of the 250 new buses that are planned to be added to the Titsa fleet to improve “sustainable” mobility, launch new lines, and reinforce saturated routes, as explained by the island corporation in a statement.
The investment made amounts to 88.4 million Euros, with 70% being hybrid buses, “which will allow for the renewal of the current fleet of over 10 years old, reduce CO2 emissions, and achieve a 30% saving in fossil fuel consumption.”
