Recently, the initiative put forth by young individuals from the south, David Bonalde and Andrea Carrero, highlighted by DIARIO DE AVISOS last week, is on the brink of fruition. To facilitate the transport of students from this area to La Laguna, with journeys lasting between 4 to 6 hours, they proposed a dedicated shuttle service, similar to the one already operational in the North (e.g. to Icod). The Tenerife Cabildo, as revealed recently, is inclined to implement this measure, much to the satisfaction of its advocates, who stress that “it is a proposition from the younger generation of Tenerife. From the people, in short,” they assert.
The students express gratitude to DIARIO DE AVISOS for spreading awareness about their proposal. Since then, they have felt the support of both the public and various institutions and media outlets. “We are still processing everything. Numerous individuals have reached out to us.
We have been deeply moved by the encouragement from many commuters who have shared their own struggles with us. Some have to resort to using their cars to save on fuel costs and they affirm that our idea could be a game-changer for them,” Andrea mentions.
From the very beginning, both David and Andrea have been deeply invested in this cause and “have taken it to heart for the betterment of future generations.” Their community spirit and resolve remain steadfast. They acknowledge that they are starting to see some progress. “We have received responses, yes, but how many promises have been made to the public?” questions David.
Awaiting an Official Response from the Cabildo
Despite the recent developments surrounding the proposal, students from the southern region feel somewhat “frustrated” by “the lack of initiative on the part of the institutions that these decisions concern.” “At present, it’s all just words. We desire a formal written commitment or correspondence to establish this service,” David insists.
“We had a meeting in February with Eulalia García, the Mobility advisor for the region, and since then, there has been no communication. On March 7, we followed up with her post the meeting to inquire about the progress of the feasibility study. On March 19, she responded, stating that implementing a shuttle service before the next year would not be feasible,” she explains. The trailblazers state that, “despite their efforts to acquire information about the study, they only received superficial responses.”
On her part, the official responsible for the area confirmed recently that the measure will indeed be put into effect. In a statement to this publication, she emphasized that “I am committed to this cause. If I haven’t been in touch with David and Andrea in recent days, it’s because I prefer to keep my communications low-key, away from the media limelight. Although I cannot provide a concrete timeline, this will happen sooner rather than later,” García assures.
“Tenerife Residents Seek Convenience”
Bonalde has meticulously examined the transport strategies in Tenerife and deems them “inefficient”. “The sustainable mobility plan for Tenerife, as released by the Cabildo, noted that, among other points, 29.2% of Tenerife residents resort to private transport in pursuit of convenience. In 28.8% of cases, individuals opt for private transport due to the scarcity of public alternatives in their area of origin,” the student adds. Likewise, Andrea believes that “the populace has internalized that public transport is subpar, uncomfortable, and compels them to use their own vehicles.” With the rising cost of fuel, individuals are rethinking their decisions. It all adds up,” concludes David.
The island councilor from the PSOE, Aaron Afonso, declared that his party will introduce this proposal during the upcoming plenary session on the 26th of this month. “Our stance is that this is a legitimate request, not a mere whim,” he asserts. “We believe it should be implemented promptly. There’s no need to postpone it to the next academic year.” Although the focus is primarily on the southern region, Afonso also argues that “the existing shuttle services in the north are inadequate. There are just two lines with a single departure and return time. There’s a need for more flexibility in this regard,” he contends.
In response to these statements, the head of Mobility for the island anticipates that “there will be enhancements to the Northern routes next year, most likely with regards to timings and frequency.” As per her, she elaborates, “the lack of communication and time constraints mean that planning the southern route to La Laguna optimally for the next year is challenging. I don’t have all the resources at my disposal that I would prefer. While we’ve acquired 100 new buses, managing a fleet takes time, and the establishment of new stops, connections, and other aspects cannot be rushed. This impedes me from acting at the speed citizens demand.”
