An apparatus for regulating the flow of individuals and vehicles in Tenerife’s protected natural areas, coordinated by the Cabildo, was put into operation over the weekend and has led to several fines for improper parking in the Teide National Park.
Specifically, individuals who own or rent vehicles were penalised for parking in spots designated for those with disabilities, in bus areas, and along yellow lines.
Moreover, a number of tourists who had parked in the middle of the traffic lane were instructed to move their vehicles, along with others who were taking photos while standing on the roadside rocks.
The monitoring apparatus involves local police, Civil Traffic Guard, Canarian Police, and Environmental agents, as explained to EFE by Pedro Millán, the director of the Natural Environment division of the Cabildo de Tenerife, and will primarily be active in the Teide National Park, as well as in the rural parks of Anaga and Teno.
It was mentioned that local police patrols are regularly visiting the Anaga area, specifically focusing on the “critical points” of Cruz del Carmen and Pico del Inglés, where the most traffic congestion tends to occur.
This particular weekend saw a “perfect storm,” admits Millán, due to favourable weather conditions alongside ongoing roadworks and a traffic light along one of the roads that passes through the Anaga Rural Park.
Efforts are being made by the Natural Environment division to collaborate with the Mobility division in enhancing public transport services and improving the mobility of both residents and visitors, as there have been “undesirable situations” like buses being unable to pick up passengers at stops due to being full.
Pedro Millán asserts that “not all decisions have been finalised nor have all solutions been implemented,” and they are working towards reaching a consensus with all stakeholders.
One of the proposed actions is to distribute a list of “best practices” on driving and parking in protected natural areas to car rental companies.
All of this is in response to the increasing number of occurrences that were uncommon before but are now more prevalent, such as “parking in the middle of a road or on top of vegetation,” as mentioned by the director of the Cabildo’s Natural Environment division.
Why is this happening? In his view, “the rise in tourism has led to overcrowding in natural spaces, which is a growing concern” because situations that were infrequent in the past are now happening more frequently.
Pedro Millán emphasises that “the vast majority of visitors are respectful, but there is a small percentage who engage in inappropriate behaviour that we must address.”
“There comes a point where congestion can prevent visitors from fully enjoying their experience,” states Millán, expressing concerns about the sustainability of these areas, as the communication routes “have their limits” and cannot be expanded further.
When asked if the traffic regulations in Timanfaya National Park in Lanzarote could be applied in Teide, he recalled that Teide has a national highway passing through it, and thus, closure is not a feasible option.
It’s worth noting that the proposed management plan for the use of Teide National Park, which stirred controversy in the previous term, includes the use of shuttle buses, but according to Millán, that is a prospect that is “too ambitious to tackle in the near future.”
