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Areas Urbanism & territory, Tourism and Economic activities Mobility

Mobility decree re: Covid-19

Given the state of alarm surrounding the Covid-19 health crisis, the Consell de Formentera reports that a decree has been adopted with the following protocol concerning public transport on Formentera roads.

Signed today by Consell president Alejandra Ferrer, the decree mandates a caveat on the continued provision public transport: that both buses and taxis must circulate at 50 per cent capacity. Exceptions are made for taxi passengers such as children, the sick and individuals with reduced mobility who require accompaniment. Failing that, ride-hailers travelling by cab must sit in the back seat and leave one seat of space between them.

Operational taxi service is required by law at the Port de la Savina bus-stop whenever ferries arrive. Across the rest of the island, the service is available by telephone at 971 32 23 42.

Both bus- and cabdrivers must advise passengers of hygienic and precautionary measures to be followed by everyone. They must also follow the recommendations of health authorities with regard to cleaning and disinfecting vehicles. Protocol to safeguard staff according to the indications of health authorities are likewise mandated.

Drivers whom health authorities consider to be particularly at risk are encouraged to stay home from work.

17 March 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera

Formentera suspends blue and green zone metred parking for two weeks

The Formentera Department of Mobility announced today it was placing blue and green zone metred parking checks on hold for two weeks. The temporary suspension takes effect Monday and is part of a number of steps taken by the administration in response to the situation of national alarm around the Covid-19 crisis.

Mobility chief Rafael González said that from this Monday, 16 March, residents would have one more reason to stay indoors since tickets to leave vehicles in blue and green zone parking spots would be no longer necessary. Attendants will still do rounds to check for unauthorised vehicles parked in handicapped spaces or areas not fit for parking.

14 March 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera

Formentera announces tender of 16 seasonal taxi permits for 2020/2021

Taxi FormenteraJThe Formentera Department of Mobility reports that the application period for seasonal chauffeurs’ licences began last Saturday and extends through Tuesday 10 March.

Individuals with permanent licences and salaried employees that can provide proof of at least five months’ worth of work in the sector over the last two years. Sixteen seasonal permits be available in 2020 and 2021, up from 10 in 2018/2019.

This year and next, eight seasonal drivers will provide service from 1 June to 31 August and the remaining eight from 1 July to 30 September, meaning a total of 16 seasonal cabs will be on the road in July and August, plus 25 vehicles driven by chauffeurs who operate year round.

formentera.eco
In July and August, when the scheme to count and cap incoming vehicles is enforced, a total of 41 taxis will be in service. Last year the number was 35 — a 17% increase in twelve months.

“This 17% uptick, plus the 18% surge in bus rides on public transport, means more sustainable mobility alternatives for tourists and islanders”, said mobility chief Rafael González. “The upshot is that hitting our 2020 target of 4% fewer in-bound vehicles is going to be that much easier.”

Sustainable vehicles (hybrids)
The assignment of new seasonal taxis will be decided by public tender. Sustainable (hybrid) and new vehicles will receive higher ratings. According to González, “this time around we opted to give preference to hybrid vehicles, which are easier on the environment, and help push us closer to our final goal: making mobility sustainable on Formentera”.

Interested parties can review the terms and conditions here.

3 March 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera

Applications for chauffeurs’ licences now being accepted

taxis-2020taxi-formenterajThe Formentera Department of Mobility announces the first round of competitive exams to obtain a local taxi permit.

Registration for the 4 March session began last Friday 7 February and will continue through the end of the day on Thursday the 20th. A second round of exams is scheduled for 1 April 2020, with registration opening ten days prior on 20 February.

Interested parties should visit the Citizen's Information Office (Oficina d’Atenció Ciutadana, or OAC) at Carrer Ramon Llull, 6, in Sant Francesc, or online via the OVAC. Once registration is closed, a provisional list of accepted and rejected students will be posted to the Consell de Formentera bulletin board and website.

Transport public on the rise
Highlighting forecasts this year of increased demand for cab drivers, mobility councillor Rafael González encouraged all those who might be interested to take the test. The local taxi fleet will grow by 17% in 2020, taking on an extra 6 vehicles. González said the change was about offering islanders and tourists “a better public service, and more mobility options”. Moreover, the new additions will be hybrids, “bringing them one step closer to sustainability”, said the councillor.

For complete information on chauffeurs’ licences and how to obtain one, as well as details about terms and conditions and the subjects that may appear on the exam, visit this link.

11 February 2020
Department of Communication
Consell de Formentera

Road to sustainability—Formentera takes formentera.eco plan for legislative term to Consell d’Entitats

foto-formentera.eco 2020 2Members of the Consell d’Entitats gathered this evening, Thursday 30 January, to take a look back on the first year of formentera.eco and to discuss the objectives as the project moves forward. “The goal is the same whatever we do”, pointed out president and tourism councillor Alejandra Ferrer, “and that’s to make Formentera a sustainable island tourists and residents can enjoy right now”. But that’s not all, Ferrer said: “It’s also about making sure future generations can enjoy Formentera, too”.

Formentera first embarked on its journey toward sustainability years ago, said Ferrer, who held up a host of measures like the plan to regulate incoming vehicles at Ses Salines nature reserve, the installation of e-vehicle recharge points, Save Posidonia Project and the system to constrict vehicle access to Es Cap de Barbaria. “The idea behind formentera.eco came from islanders”, said Ferrer, who added that the people of Formentera have “always been there to guide us on this path”. “That’s why we’re here now: to share our proposal for this legislative term, and this year, with the Consell d’Entitats”.

Greater reliance on sustainability
Mobility councillor Rafael González unpacked the figures from year-one of regulation and outlined the proposal for 2020-2023. “Formentera.eco has enabled us to buck the trend of increasingly crowded roads in summertime”, he said, explaining that the number of cars in circulation had dropped by 2%, pulling highway traffic down by 8% and giving rise to 1.6% and 29% increases, respectively—compared to 2018—in use of public transport and bicycles. “We’ve begun reshaping local mobility, and we’re relying more on sustainable models”, González quipped.

The main goal of formentera.eco is to do just that: more pedestrian zones, more room for bicycles, more public transportation...and fewer trips in personal vehicles. As González says, “this kind of mobility is crucial to the wellbeing of our residents and visitors”.

Proposals for 2020
2020 regulation plans include creating a mobility info point in La Savina harbour and new cycling lanes in La Savina and Sant Ferran, not to mention checks of signage across the island’s network of 32 natural trails and outreach to encourage islanders to use the trails. The local fleet of taxis is also expected to grow in 2020 by 17%, bringing the total number of cabs on the road to 41—up from 35 the previous year.

Improvements to public transport are coming down the pike, too, with the bus service expanding by 18% to accommodate a new route and increasingly frequent service. The changes will bring the total number of routes to seven, and buses will run from 6.00am to 12 midnight, with special night-owl service from midnight to 1.15am. For the first time ever, public transport will be free for riders under 18. Moreover, a new service concessionaire is set to be designated in 2021, and with it, more improvements are expected; the service will expand to nine routes and an even more robust nighttime service.

formentera.eco 2020-2023
The measures detailed above are all part of what González called an “orderly and gradual” regulatory rollout, and indicated the upper limit on permitted vehicles was expected to fall by 16% in four years. “We’re convinced that these improvements to mobility will bring about natural changes in the way people move”, said González, describing the eventual endpoint as “a more sustainable mobility”.

formentera.eco 2020
The ceiling on vehicles will likely be lowered by 4% in 2020. Last year the official limit was 22,382, however, only 21,929 motorists were given authorisation to drive cars on the island. The official limit this year will be 21,487.

The question of when regulation would be enforced was also put to attendees of the meeting. They were asked whether enforcement should go from 1 July to 31 August, or be expanded—begining the last week of June and extending across the first week in September. Visitors must pay €1/day for cars and 50 cents for motor-scooters (minimums—€5 for the former and €2.50 for the latter—are also established).

Permission to bring a vehicle and operate it on the island can be requested in advance. Such “pre-reservations” (prereserves) can be made from March on the formentera.eco website and formalised starting in April. Authorisation is guaranteed for people who have already reserved overnight lodging or ferry tickets for vehicle passage. A specific portal will be made available for related inquiries on formentera.eco.

The Consell d’Entitats’ member groups have been given one week to report the 2020-2023 proposal back to their associates; two additional sessions have been called for Thursday 6 February at 7.30pm (first group) and 8.00pm (second group).

30 January 2020
Department of Communication
Consell de Formentera

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c. d'Eivissa cant. Arx. Lluis Salvador
07860 Sant Francesc
tel. 971 32 10 87 · fax 971 32 10 63
mobilitat@conselldeformentera.cat

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