Yesterday, the Cabildo and the Federation of Transportation Entrepreneurs formalised an agreement to utilise smaller discretionary transport buses in Anaga Rural Park and Masca, measuring between 10 and 12.5 metres, operating in a single direction. This initiative will come into effect on 15 May, aiming to enhance mobility within these two natural areas.
The island president, Rosa Dávila, articulated that the tourist buses, which will accommodate a maximum of 50 passengers, will enter through San Andrés and exit via Mercedes; in Masca, they will enter through Santiago del Teide and depart via Buenavista, preventing simultaneous buses from travelling in opposite directions. This restriction is essential due to the narrow roads, which frequently cause delays.
Dávila described the event as “a historical agreement,” which affects all discretionary transport companies operating in Tenerife. “Regulating access to Anaga and Teno was urgently required, and we have reached a responsible consensus to address a longstanding demand from residents, visitors, and tour operators,” she remarked.
José Agustín Espino, the president of the Federation of Transportation Entrepreneurs, noted that this agreement represents “the continuation of various agreements” aimed at promoting better mobility. Meanwhile, José Francisco Pérez, representing the discretionary transport companies, stated that the goal is to create “the best possible routes.”
Companies are already equipped with these buses to commence operations on 15 May in Anaga and Masca; however, they estimate it will take a year to renew or adapt their fleets to meet the new requirements.
When asked about the possibility of setting a quota for the number of buses accessing these two rural parks daily, Dávila indicated that the issue of mobility “is less about business operations and more about reducing the number of private or rental vehicles.” There is interest in establishing a park-and-ride system in Anaga, with a bus junction; she mentioned that there is land in the quarries “that has already been agreed upon with the owners.”
The agreement outlines measures to organise bus circulation. In Teno, buses measuring up to 10 metres will access Masca from Buenavista del Norte (TF-42) and proceed towards Santiago del Teide (TF-436 and TF-82). In Anaga, buses of up to 12.2 metres will travel from San Andrés (TF-11) to Taganana, Abicor, and Cruz del Carmen (TF-12), exiting from Mercedes to La Laguna.
The signing of this agreement followed the VI Mobility Meeting, sponsored by the Cabildo, which gathered professional associations including CEOE, Fepeco, Femete, the Regional Federation of the Taxi, DGT, the Civil Guard, and the University of La Laguna.
