By Adrian Galvan. At times, attempting to solve a problem can lead to the creation of several others. Finding the right solution is not always straightforward, and when efforts repeatedly fail to yield the desired outcomes, it’s crucial to explore alternative paths. According to San Andrés residents, the City Council seems to overlook this reflection, persisting with the bus lane to Las Teresitas. Initially introduced as a pilot test over the weekend of June 21 to alleviate traffic from the Dársena Pesquera to the beach, it has now become a regular measure from Friday to Sunday. Despite claims by the Councilor for Mobility, Evelyn Alonso, that the initiative is successful in increasing public transport usage, nine businesses in the coastal town have raised complaints to the newspaper DIARIO DE AVISOS, stating that it has turned into “a punishment.” They argue that queues have become even longer than before, and the reduction in parking spaces is driving customers away.
The new temporary lane, delineated by cones from the fishing dock to the San Andrés Castle, aims to address traffic issues, particularly during the summer months when congestion is a significant challenge for Las Teresitas residents and visitors. The objective is to encourage beachgoers to utilise public transport, alleviating weekend traffic. Although there has been a positive impact with a 16% increase in the number of passengers since its inception, the car queues have significantly lengthened due to road narrowing. Moreover, the disappearance of cones at the curve of the multicoloured bridge forces buses to merge into traffic to access the beach. The lack of parking, exacerbated by the removal of all spaces in the bus access area, further compounds the issue.
Óscar Plasencia, along with his siblings, has owned various restaurants on the seaside avenue for over 40 years. His frustration is palpable when discussing the matter. He believes that “nobody is in agreement” and describes it as “a major error.” “I invite you to accompany me wherever you wish,” he offers, “to see that no one is in favour.” Accompanied by Óscar, we explore the neighbourhood to gauge businesses’ opinions on the council’s proposal. Notably, the response is overwhelmingly negative. While traversing San Andrés, several individuals step forward to voice their discontent. Despite it being the start of the weekend, many establishments are empty, prompting Óscar to remark, “Is this normal for a Friday? People are apprehensive. The weekend has become the most challenging time of the week!”
“Contemplating Weekend Closure”
José Vera, proprietor of La Pandora restaurant, ironically chuckles when referencing the bus lane. “Last weekend was a disaster. I will only open this weekend as four families have requested. I’m doing it for them. Depending on how things unfold, I may have to cease weekend operations until after August,” he discloses. He recounts an incident from two Sundays ago when a party of seven was unable to dine due to being stuck in the queue. “They phoned me, expressing their distress as they had a child with them,” he shares.
Strolling along Avenida de San Andrés, we encounter Isabel Petrona from Titi Burguer. Like her colleagues, she observes that once people become aware of the situation, they avoid visiting due to the ensuing queues. The parking scarcity directly impacts her as well. “The other day, I had to circle four times to find parking,” she recounts, asserting that this is “the most significant folly they’ve committed.” At El Asunto bar, akin to La Pandora, cancellations have occurred due to customers having to turn back owing to the parking shortage. Its proprietor, Manolo García, affirms, “It’s harming all businesses,” noting that on a standard Friday like today, the bar would typically be bustling. However, it sits deserted…
The proprietors of the renowned Los Churritos bar at San Andrés’ entrance echo the sentiments of others: “You’re exacerbating the situation. You’re worsening the circumstances. Existing issues are being compounded.” Indeed, queues in this area of Santa Cruz have always been present, but as Oscar highlights, “since 1982, there have been two-lane queues. Just envision it now!” At the Monte Rey restaurant, Maria del Carmen points out how the parking deficit affects delivery drivers and suppliers, who are already struggling to locate parking spots. Even an employee at a scuba diving establishment on the avenue indicates the inconvenience.
Upon arrival, our impromptu companion Oscar is insistent on visiting Sandra Armeño from the San Andrés burger joint, who shares his profound frustration. When we reach her eatery, she emphatically states, “This is an outrage.” Sandra emphasises that such changes always coincidentally occur in the summer, reminiscent of the disruptions faced last summer. “We must strive to enhance the town, not further deteriorate it!” she concludes.
“Give Us Some Breathing Space”
Like Sandra, numerous shop owners lament the recurring disruptions experienced every summer. For José, the proprietor of La Pandora, “From June to August, it always feels never-ending. If it’s not COVID, it’s construction or now this…” “It seems like an attempt to suffocate us only to provide respite later,” Oscar adds.
Similarly, local residents share many of these sentiments. Ernesto Llebry and Bea Rodríguez, heads of the Carmen festivities committee and residents of the town, note how traffic issues are compounded by periodic construction works. They also perceive that “San Andrés is perpetually neglected” and that though efforts have been made, they’ve yielded minimal benefit.
Demand for a Dedicated Bus Lane
The City Council’s endeavours to promote bus usage are commendable, particularly during a period where the future of urban mobility pivots on public transport. Ernesto and Bea, patrons of Titsa, concur that bus utilisation should be incentivised. They advocate for embracing a shift away from private vehicles. However, they observe that outside peak hours, buses operate under capacity at noon. Thus, they propose better coordination and restricting the bus lane to specific hours as an initial step.
Amidst the prevailing dissatisfaction, nearly everyone recognises the importance of endorsing bus and public transport usage. Nonetheless, interviewees concur that the solution to traffic congestion cannot entail the elimination of a lane under any circumstances. “An additional lane should be instituted. It would be highly beneficial,” Ernesto and Bea suggest, underlining that there is ample space, such as by removing the promenade that separates the directions. The majority support this notion, advocating for a direct third lane to the beach to circumvent the bottleneck at the castle level encompassing the single track, roundabout, and traffic light.
To date, the City Council has not acknowledged these grievances. The Mobility and Anaga district councillors, Evelyn Alonso and Gladis de León, maintain that the tests have yielded positive outcomes, attributing any issues to full beach car parks with visitors continuing to seek parking. They pledge to address this inconvenience by implementing sensors to indicate parking spot availability. Albeit the Mobility Department’s announcement of postponing the bus lane activation during the San Andrés festivities, the reemergence of orange cones is anticipated in August. Consequently, residents may have to contend with ongoing “trials” throughout the summer unless alterations are made.
