Tenerife’s Bicycle Lane Remains Unused Amid Legal Uncertainty

Current Status of the Bicycle Lane

The bicycle lane in Santa Cruz de Tenerife is currently not being used for cycling. However, it has become a focal point for public opinion and analysis regarding its potential while the judiciary decides its fate. Carlos Tarife, the Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Public Services, confirmed to Atlántico Hoy that he is considering putting the infrastructure to use while awaiting a court decision.

Request for Report

Specifically, the councillor stated that, as “the outcome of the report is still unknown,” they are currently looking to “request a report from the legal services on whether the project can be put to use.” In a statement made on radio, Tarife explained that the intention is to create a situation similar to that which occurred during the carnival celebrations at the Robayna square, better known as “Plaza del Orche,” which had been under construction but was adapted to facilitate the festivities.

Usage Proposal

“While we await the decision from the High Court of Justice of the Canary Islands (TSJC), I believe the only action we can take — which is why I will request a report from the Legal Services — is to put the project to use. This work was just five days away from being handed over to the authorities, and before that could happen, we had to halt it due to the judicial order,” the councillor remarked. He clarified that no action can be taken until the TSJC rules, as the order was to “halt the works,” emphasising that “the project and what we do with what we currently have on the streets are two different matters.” He highlighted plans to undertake the same actions as with the carnival event for a project that was not completed. “It was made available for an event, and I am proposing the same while the Tribunal considers the appeal and makes its decision freely,” he concluded.

Mayor’s Comments

Recently, the Mayor of the capital, José Manuel Bermúdez, expressed his views on the bicycle lane, stating that “we cannot wait indefinitely for the court to decide whether a city can or cannot have a bicycle lane,” in clear reference to the appeal the Town Hall has lodged against the precautionary measure halting the project. The mayor also added, “We need to see how it all ends, but it is evident that I cannot have a project unfinished and unused while awaiting a verdict. We hope to win and proceed with the project, for if we lose, the final ruling could be appealed, leaving us in limbo for years.”

Project Halt

On 24 June, the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Town Hall halted construction on the bicycle lane in the city centre, with an inauguration scheduled for 28 June. This decision came in compliance with a ruling from the TSJC that ordered the suspension of the Cycling Network implementation. The nearly completed works, requiring only paint and minor finishing touches, were suspended. The council has filed a motion for reconsideration with the TSJC, defending the legal basis for completing the works and launching the Cycling Network in the city centre. Meanwhile, the neighbourhood association Urban Centro El Perenquén and their lawyer filed a corresponding complaint, arguing that the ordinance was developed without proper public participation. As it stands, the pending appeals have rendered the bicycle lane non-operational.