The free fare initiative has led to a groundbreaking rise in public transport usage in Tenerife. As the Island commenced offering zero euro tickets for bus and tram travel from 2023, passenger numbers surged to unprecedented levels: from 48 million in 2022, the year prior to the introduction of complimentary travel, to 80 million in 2024, marking a substantial 66% increase.
This information was shared yesterday by Rosa Dávila, president of the Cabildo of Tenerife. According to Dávila, the 31.9 million additional passengers over two years “demonstrates the success of this measure.” For her, these outcomes “strengthen” a key aim of her transport policy: minimising the volume of private vehicles on the roads to alleviate traffic congestion.
“This is a particularly significant milestone for an island grappling with a longstanding mobility issue, where over 3.5 million daily journeys are made, 90% of which are undertaken in private vehicles,” she elaborated. It is also notable that there is nearly one vehicle for each resident, totalling more than 792,000 against a population of 950,000.
Zero-cost vouchers will continue to be in place through 2025. The island’s Governing Council recently approved the extension of complimentary public transport for regular users in the upcoming year. Since its inception in 2023, this initiative has transformed transport in Tenerife, accommodating 150 million passengers. “This is a successful example that not only enhances life for countless individuals but also plays a vital role in easing traffic on our roads and curbing pollution,” remarked the island president following the Council meeting.
The budget for this measure in 2025 will be 140 million, with the Government of Spain providing 81 million, accounting for 58% of the total expenditure. The remaining 42%, equating to 59 million, will be financed by the Cabildo. Rosa Dávila insists on the necessity for this initiative to persist in future years: “It is crucial that the central government amplifies its funding and takes responsibility for this policy that benefits all residents of the island. We cannot permit this initiative to be vulnerable to political fluctuations. We need to establish it as a stable policy.”
The commitment also encompasses the establishment of shuttle buses to link essential destinations. The university shuttle has successfully reduced the reliance on private transport amongst students at the University of La Laguna, eliminating journeys for 3,300 students travelling from the South and 4,000 from the North. By 2025, an additional shuttle will be introduced to connect the Hospital del Norte, simplifying transport from Icod, Los Realejos and La Orotava.
Subscribe to continue reading
