Last night, the plenary hall of Formentera's care centre for dependent persons became the gathering point for islanders curious to learn about a proposal to regulate parking in Sant Francesc. Area residents got a chance to hear Council representatives explain plans for a June trial run, which, by July, could give way to full implementation of a system that includes 450 regulated, blue-zone parking spaces and more than 630 overflow spots.

Formentera Council president Jaume Ferrer explored some of the rationale for taking the regime to Sant Francesc roads—“more rotation in blue-zone areas and more vibrant commerce”, he offered.

Mobility secretary Rafael González spoke about the success of a similar venture in la Savina, a town whose historic parking crunch was brought to heel by regulating how drivers park—a move that involved rebranding commercial areas as “blue zones” and residential ones “green”.

González said officials hoped blue-zone parking would have a similarly soothing effect on the situation in Sant Francesc. While drivers must respect metred parking rules across the town's network of non-pedestrian roads there, overflow car parks and spaces next to the town's roundabout will remain open.

Sant Francesc's blue zone
Formentera residents will receive full rebates on parking fees up to one car per person. By means of one yearly application, local drivers can get authorisation to park across the island, much as with the current system in la Savina. Blue-zone passes will be valid island-wide, for 24 hours in summer and three days in winter. Non-residents must pay to park (€1.20 an hour) from 9.00am to 9.00pm, Monday to Sunday, from May to October. From November to April, metred parking is enforced from 9.00am to 2.00pm and 4.00pm to 8.00pm.

To meet parking demand near popular shopping areas, a new, 15-minute pass will be available to all drivers. To that effect, 15-minute load-and-unload spaces will be created in Sant Francesc. These spaces aim to encourage rotation in points where demand is highest.

Some motorists, individuals with reduced mobility and scooter drivers, will enjoy free parking. So will people operating electric vehicles. Drivers of hybrids will get discounts of 50 per cent. Lorries used for loading and unloading commercial goods will be limited to 30 minutes in appropriate areas. Four-by-fours, meanwhile, are prohibited everywhere—in metred zones and overflow lots.

The Formentera Council's Office of Mobility reports that from last Friday to next (March 9), the administration is accepting applications for seasonal taxi licences on the island.

Applicants must possess a driving licence considered “permanent” and be able to attest at least five months' on-the-job experience in the last five years.

The number of this sort of seasonal chauffeur licence available this cycle has risen from eight in 2016/2017 to ten, a change that will remain unchanged in 2019.

This year and next, five drivers with seasonal permits will be allowed to operate from June 1 to August 31 while the remaining five permit-holders will operate July 1 to September 30. The measure insures that during the busiest months of the year, July and August, an additional ten taxis will join the fleet, which typically numbers 25.

Licences will be awarded by public tender. As a rule, sustainable, or hybrid, vehicles will receive a higher ranking. New cars as well. Explained mobility secretary Rafael González:“The decision to give priority to hybrid cars is a clear indication of our island's commitment to sustainable mobility”.

The mobility department of the Formentera Council reports that Jaume Ferrer, president of the administration, was joined by Marc Pons, the regional minister of land, energy and mobility, in signing a deal on high-tech upgrades for the island's public buses.

Under the agreement, CTM, a Mallorca-based transport consortium that rigs municipal buses in the Balearics with on-board technical equipment, promises to lend the Council material and oversee upkeep.

The current plan calls for purchase of 12 ticket-vending machines and 36 validation devices, as well as LED info panels, security cameras and communication kits.

The Council and CTM's joint acquisition of the new material means efforts under way in the Balearics to integrate bus fares and rider-info services will become even easier. Buses in the region, moreover, will all be equipped with the same hardware and software.

The measure, in the words of mobility councillor Rafael González, “is about improving the public transport service”. González said the change was occurring alongside preparations for a new transport contract in early 2019 which is purported to mean further improvements to bus service in the region.

The Formentera Council's Office of Mobility wishes to report it will soon host a second series of exams for taxi permits issued by the municipality. The guidelines for the examination process, adopted by the administration and published February 1, 2018 in issue 15 of the regional gazette (BOIB), can also be found in the mobility department's section on the Council website (www.consellinsulardeformentera.cat) or at https://goo.gl/Mmx453.

Examinations will take place March 20, 2018. Applications will be accepted by the Council's Registre General, located at the Citizen Information Office (OAC), at carrer de Ramon Llull, 6, in Sant Francesc.

The names of successful and unsuccessful candidates will be published on the administration's bulletin board on March 7.