The Popular Party in the Cabildo saw how in the plenary session of the month, last Friday, its proposal to study the feasibility of making public transport free for people over 65, university students and hospital patients was rejected. Its spokesman, Manuel Fernández, announces that “we are going to raise it again in the session of the Debate on the Island, which will be held in April.”
This proposal was part of a “package” to alleviate the economic and social situation “both due to the consequences of covid and the war in Ukraine.” To this is added the increase in the costs of electricity and fuel, inflation or the paralysis caused by the transport strike ».
Fernández values: “It is urgent to propose measures that encourage the use of public transport.” For the popular, in Tenerife “it is key, both from the point of view of mobility and the environment.” The proponent alludes to the fact that “the pandemic has proliferated the use of private transport due to the uncertainty about possible infections in buses or trams.” He summarizes: “We must work to reverse this situation.”
The popular councilor recalls that “it is a proposal that we have defended since 2019.” In addition, “in places like the Community of Madrid this year half is already paid for the transport subscription and in 2023 it will be free for those over 65 years of age.”
Manuel Fernández states that “the serious mobility problem that Tenerife has has to be fought on different fronts.” Two priority lines of action: “Infrastructures that decongest our road system – almost one car per inhabitant – and promotion of public transport”.
The initiative is committed to making it free for these sectors of the population because it could avoid specific problems on the highways in the north and south. His approach also takes into account ‘the current economic context’.
