David Bonalde and Andrea Carrero crossed paths during their Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Management at the University of La Laguna. Both reside in the southern part of the island and, in addition to their passion for their studies, they share the lack of adequate transportation to access the University of La Laguna (ULL). David lives in San Miguel de Abona and Andrea Carrero in Adeje. It takes them between 5 and 6 hours to commute to their campus. In Andrea’s case, she has to take up to three buses and the tram to reach her faculty.
The physical and mental exhaustion they have been experiencing since they started their degree three years ago has led them to embark on a significant project, which has now reached the Tenerife Island Council. The council plans to implement the shuttle buses proposed by these two students from September onwards, running directly from the southern municipalities to the ULL, as announced by the Mobility Councillor, Eulalia García, who met with them on February 14 after learning about their proposal. Last Thursday, she confirmed that the plan will be put into action. “We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the Council for considering this initiative,” emphasized the two students from Tenerife. For the young pair, it has been a “very serious” endeavour, highlighting the great effort they have put in while also appreciating “the warm reception” their proposal has received. “We hope that real measures are taken to address this issue,” they state.
More than 2,000 university students from Tenerife will benefit from these shuttle buses connecting the South and ULL. David and Andrea have been the public faces and driving force behind an initiative that has already garnered over 5,000 signatures. They consider themselves “responsible” and “actively engaged in their studies.” They keep up with their coursework and are studious. However, they regret that they sometimes have no choice but to miss classes due to mobility issues. “Sometimes getting to the campus by early morning means waking up at four in the morning,” stressed Andrea. They also struggle to find time for study outside of class. Even though they manage their studies fairly well, the hours spent on the bus deprive them of time to rest and prepare for exams.
The students attribute the success of their campaign not to these qualities, but to their perspective on politics. They observe peers who view public officeholders as an institution that is hard to access. “What may have set us apart to some extent is the approach we took, considering that public institutions work with citizens and accept proposals.” Therefore, they believe it is essential for citizens to suggest measures that they truly need.
Arriving at the campus by early morning sometimes entails waking up at four in the morning
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They are content with their efforts. Even many people from the northern part of the island, who are not direct beneficiaries, have supported this initiative because they empathize with a problem that also affects their area. Messages like “I know what it’s like because we still experience it” are examples of statements from students in the North who, despite having two shuttle lines already in operation, see that they are not tailored to the actual demand. A shuttle bus like the one now proposed for the South had already been arranged for Northern students. These are the 606 and 608 lines, originating from the northern municipalities and ending their journey at the General Classroom Building.
Out of the 19,335 students enrolled at the University of La Laguna, 3,311 come from the Southern area and 3,846 from the North. Therefore, both areas are affected almost equally. David Bonalde and Andrea Carrero proposed the measure of creating shuttle buses with a route starting from Costa de Adeje, with stops at key points in Los Cristianos, San Isidro, Güímar, and Candelaria, departing every 25 to 30 minutes to cater to the high demand expected for these routes. The route is planned to conclude at the La Laguna Interchange. This assists students living in the South whose daily lives are hampered by a lack of public transport, long waiting times, and traffic congestion on the highway.
The proposal, which reached the Tenerife Island Council, is expected to be implemented at the start of the next academic year. The two students view this campaign as a taxing endeavour that they pulled off with the support of their families and fellow students. David Bonalde recalls how students approached them during in-person signature collection sessions to offer their support and share their equally negative personal experiences. Bonalde is astonished to hear cases where transportation hardship has pushed some individuals to the brink: “They have told us that they had to abandon their studies.” Many choose to share on social media their situations equally constrained by the lack of adequate and accessible public transport from all parts of Tenerife, leading to the formation of a strong support community that includes the workforce.
Institutions cannot promote public transport if it is inadequate
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According to David and Andrea, this measure would not just benefit students, but also the thousands of people who commute to their jobs from the South every morning. The young duo empathise with these examples and have received up to 800 complaints from directly affected individuals, as existing services do not meet the real demand.
Once the measure is implemented, the students request “caution” so that tenants who currently rent apartments see the bus as a viable alternative. “No student from the South considers these long commutes. Everyone is aware that they should rent an apartment as close to the campus as possible,” stated David. Therefore, the aim is to promote public and equitable transport so that a lack of financial resources for renting or owning a private vehicle does not hinder access to education. “The bus service cannot be a barrier to education.”
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To alleviate traffic congestion, bold and decisive measures need to be taken
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The people of Tenerife have a prevailing perception that public transport is inadequate. According to the Tenerife Sustainability Mobility Plan, 28.8% of the population opts for private transport over public transport due to the absence or inadequacy of public transport routes. David and Andrea do not understand why public institutions urge the public to use buses: “The population has ingrained in their minds that the transportation being provided is deficient. If we truly want to alleviate traffic congestion, we must take bold and decisive measures,” assert the young duo, who will continue to monitor the measures implemented and their effectiveness.
