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Areas Urbanism & territory, Tourism and Economic activities Mobility

Monday marks return of 6.00am ferry to Eivissa

foto 2020 conexionsEarlier today Consell de Formentera president Alejandra Ferrer and Balearic mobility and housing minister Marc Pons were joined by Adolfo Utor, chief of the transport company Baleària, in making public the details of a partnership between the Govern balear and Balèaria to re-establish early-bird service from Formentera to Eivissa.

From Monday 16 November, islanders will have the option of a 6.00am ferry to Eivissa. The partnership resolves an issue that was laid bare by Formentera residents who petitioned to make the early-morning ferry service to Eivissa mandatory.

“Maritime mobility goes beyond leisure”, said President Ferrer, “it’s a question of basic needs and essential services which are available exclusively on Eivissa”. She applauded Baleària’s efforts to restore the 6.00am trip but encouraged Mr Pons to continue working to bring back the 10.30pm Eivissa-to-Formentera journey as well. The last ferry currently sets off from Eivissa every night at 9.30pm.

The Balèaria boss said the early-bird service would operate weekdays in passenger-only “eco fast” ships that the ferry company added to its fleet two years ago. The ferries were specially designed for the Eivissa-Formentera route and have a reduced environmental footprint.

Also on hand at the presentation were local mobility councillor Rafael González and the head of the Balearic office of sea and air transport, Xavier Ramis.

13 November 2020
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera

Formentera crowns year two of scheme to count and cap incoming vehicles

The Formentera Department of Mobility reports that 31 August marked a milestone: the end of the second summer of restricted permits to bring and operate vehicles on the island. According to data collected by the Consell de Formentera, the months of July and August saw an overall  average of 18,969 vehicles navigating local roads—an eight-per-cent drop compared to 2019, when 20,595 had obtained the necessary permit.

The average number of vehicles in circulation in July was 18,322 and in August it was 19,616. Broken down by vehicle type and drivers, the figures are as follows:

_______________________________________ July August

Average

Compact cars (visitors)......................................... 1,891 2,073 1,982
Motor scooters (visitors)
195 203 199
Compact cars (Eivissa residents)
199 220 210
Motor scooters (Eivissa residents)
20 20

20

Compact cars (rental)........................................... 2,481 2,592 2,536
Motor scooters (rental)
6,720 6,720 6,720
Resident vehicles........................................ 5,723 6,440 6,081
Other vehicles 1,093 1,348 1,221
Total___________________________________ 18,322 19,616 18,969

---

Visiting vehicle permit requests near peak levels in August
In a first since the count-and-curb scheme was launched, motorists vying for accreditation to drive on the island outstripped the number of available permits. The situation arose four times in August: Thursday the 13th, Friday the 14th, Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st. Plus, for twenty consecutive days in August —from the 5th to the 24th— permits were over 95% exhausted.

In 2020 the vehicle ceiling was set at 21,487—four per cent lower than the previous year’s (22,382).

“The pandemic meant this was an atypical season for formentera.eco”, said mobility chief Rafael González, who indicated that although “final data and conclusions [were] forthcoming, generally speaking the island saw fewer vehicles than in 2019”. Still, demand hit particularly high levels in August, with permits even maxing out on four separate occasions—an indication, quipped González, “of just how necessary the regulatory scheme really is”.

González trumpeted the scheme’s accurate enforcement and the absence of significant “misalignments or incidents”. He applauded the constant collaboration of ferry companies, who kept travellers informed for the duration of formentera.eco enforcement, as well as that of rent-a-car businesses for their overall compliance with the scheme.

“When complete data is available in October we will start sitting down with representatives of the local social and business sector in order to evaluate this second season and work on the season ahead”, concluded González.

8 September 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera

In bid to limit crowding at beach, Formentera restricts access to Ses Illetes

foto 2020 illetes tancadaAt approximately 12.30pm today the Formentera Departments of Mobility and Interior ordered the closure of access to Ses Illetes beach in Ses Salines natural reserve. Implemented just as numbers of beachgoers peaked, the measure aimed to prevent overcrowding and facilitate compliance with safety measures related to covid-19.

Public transport, taxis, pedestrians and cyclists were blocked from entering the park as well. “In terms of the summer tourist season, this is our apex”, said interior chief Josep Marí, who told islanders to expect similar measures tomorrow (Friday) and at the weekend.

Marí explained that when the number of beachgoers reaches a given red line, Ibifor, which manages car parks at Ses Salines, has been advised to contact the Formentera Local Police, who will then close access to Ses Illetes to private vehicles, public transport, pedestrians and cyclists.

Staff began a controlled reopening of the beach shortly after 3.00pm today, when crowds had thinned out significantly and left sufficient space for safe physical distancing.

As crowds surge again this summer, the local Guardia Civil and the force’s traffic unit will assist Formentera Local Police assuring public safety. Assuming access isn’t restricted wholesale, daily bus trips to the area will go from seven to four.

13 August 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera

Information on public transport

foto bus proximo ferryThe Formentera Department of Mobility reports that as of 1 August, users of the Próximo Ferry web and mobile apps (https://proximoferry.com) have been able to access timetables for public transport on Formentera.

A click on the Eivissa>Formentera section leads visitors to up-to-date details about buses connecting passengers on ferries between the two Pine Islands.

Mobility chief Rafael González described the goal as “keeping islanders and tourists in the loop about public transport options and promoting their use”. The app is known and used by a large number of people, said González, helping guarantee that info on public transport reaches the widest possible audience.

8 August 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera

On average day in July, vehicles on Formentera roads number 18,322

The Formentera Department of Mobility reports that this July, as local government reactivated its scheme to keep track of how many vehicles are brought and driven on the island, the programme logged on average 18,322 vehicles with accreditation on any given day. The figure marks a six per cent drop compared to 2019, when the average daily total was 19,532.

Describing summer 2020 as “atypical” —the current holiday season began at the end of June— mobility conseller Rafael González welcomed the news. He pointed out the island was still shy of its established summer limit and remained on track to reach sustainability objectives. “When the public health crisis first erupted we made projections for the months ahead, and we’re surpassing those initial projections”, the conseller said.

“To date there have been no incidents nor corrections to speak of”, he affirmed before applauding the collaboration of ferry companies and rent-a-car firms.

Figures from month one of regulation:

Visiting motorists / compact cars 1,891
Visiting motorists / motor-scooters 195

Eivissa residents / compact cars 199
Eivissa residents / motor-scooters 20

Rented compact cars 2,481
Rented motor-scooters 6,720

Formentera resident vehicles: 5,723
Other vehicles: 1,093

Total: 18,322

In 2020 the total number of permits under formentera.eco is capped at 21,487—four per cent fewer than last year, when the ceiling was set at 22,382.

González highlighted the “calculated and gradual” course charted earlier in the term to cut total vehicles by 16% in four years, or 4% fewer cars every year. “Our end-game hasn’t changed in that respect”, confided González, “we don’t want the public health crisis to jeopardise the model of sustainability that we’ve worked years to get to”.

Full rebates
Fees associated with formentera.eco are being waived this summer in an effort to offset this year’s unusual circumstances, meaning motorists pay nothing to drive on the island. Drivers without accreditation can get it at www.formentera.eco.

Controlling vehicle plate numbers
Accreditation will continue to be verified by a reader that scans number plates as cars enter and exit the island in La Savina. Individuals without the necessary accreditation will face fines of between €1,000 and €10,000.

6 August 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera

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