The hours of free public transport in the Balearic Islands are counted, even if the report which serves as the basis for the limitation of the entry of cars into Mallorca by the Consell demands its maintenance, which already seems completely excluded, due to the lack of involvement and funding of the government of socialist Pedro Sánchez.
The freight study prepared by the mobility and transport consultancy Cinesi, which has more than 25 years of experience in mobility studies throughout Spain, is committed to keeping it free. This happened in the last two years, when the Sánchez Executive transferred to the Government an insufficient amount of 43 million euros for this purpose, which the Minister of Transport Oscar Puenteexcludes contributing to regional coffers for subsequent distribution to island councils and municipalities.
For the authors of the report, free “generates a considerable volume of passengers “which has, as might be expected, transformed the private vehicle into public transport, with the benefits that this brings at a societal level.”
In fact, actual passenger demand not only increased with the free service, but “doubled the theoretical demand calculated in the concessions of the bus service in Mallorca (TIB)”. It must be taken into account that the effect of free public transport has caused an increase in demand since 2021, reaching doubling of train/metro values between 2021 and 2023, and quadruple the bus values.
In addition, we know that this growing trend continues in 2024, since in the first quarter the total trips on the network already exceed the corresponding values of 2023 by 23%.
The study recognizes that this increase in demand highlights the good reception from society towards free public transport, causing a sharp increase in their use. But on the other hand, the sudden increase in demand, not foreseen in the concession contract, makes it difficult to cover it with the existing public offer from the Transport Consortium of Mallorca (CTM).
Despite the difficulty of coping with demand values that have far exceeded all forecasts, the increase in supply does not occur in parallel with the increase in actual demand. Especially in high season and in tourist areas, when many services leave passengers on the ground due to lack of capacity.
The study therefore recognizes that free public transport is a “complex and controversial” aspect, and that even some experts assure that Gratification “slows down progress and improvement” conditions of service.
That’s to say, non-free public transport helps obtain resources so that they can be used to improve the service. So, whether it is free or not, the Cinesi report highlights the nwe must “improve the supply of public transport, “study an increase in frequencies and hours of service, as well as the extension of the existing network.”
And finally, he emphasizes that reduce the number of vehicles which circulate on the roads of the island, this is the objective of this load study, “you should opt for public transport, and free has already been shown to produce the desired effect.
It does not seem that this is the intention of the Sánchez government since, as the Regional Executive reminded the Balearic PSOE last week, the Balearic Islands cannot make any decision regarding free public transport in the Islands, because it is a question that it depends directly on the Spanish Government of the socialist Pedro Sánchez.
This is why, the Minister of Housing, Territory and Mobility, Jose Luis Mateoregretted that the socialists did not apply the said bonus during the last two legislatures during which they presided over the government with Francine Armengol at the head of the regional executive.
“If they were so clear that this measure was so necessary and essential, Why didn’t the government enforce it during these eight years? “And they let practically two mandates pass?” asked Minister Mateo without obtaining an answer.
