Members 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

Formentera president Alejandra Ferrer was joined by councillors of mobility and interior Rafael González and Josep Marí, respectively, in unveiling the Consell de Formentera’s winter campaign to promote safety on the highway – an effort she said was “tuned to educate islanders about the dangers we face when we get behind the wheel”.

Posters feature numerous Formentera residents in everyday situations —in a car, on a motorcycle, atop a bicycle— with the reminder to motorists that “the road’s for all of us” (A la carretera hi som tots). Ferrer explained the three-part message as “Please, don’t speed, don’t drink and drive, and don’t drive distracted. These are the three main causes of accidents on our roads”.

The posters have been up since yesterday at lighted display cases across the island, they will also be placed near main roads. A special dissemination effort will be activated in traditional media outlets and on social media. According to President Ferrer: “The campaign appeals to people’s sense of community. We want Formentera residents to understand that the other driver on the road could be a neighbour, a friend, or a family member”.

Road map
Some 2,360 brochures have been printed with the campaign’s core images and a fold-out map of the island. The text highlights the fact that Formentera is a small island and, though it’s easy to think we’re danger-free, anytime a vehicle is in motion, extreme caution must be exercised. Plenty of surprises can appear suddenly, like hidden turn-offs in the countryside, a crossing animal, or special vehicles and cyclists.

Councillor González pointed out that all the information in the pamphlets has been specifically adapted for Formentera roads and the particular characteristics of the island, “so drivers take note”, he said. The tracts also feature a review of basic aspects of traffic and safety codes, which, González said: “Everyone is expected to respect”.

Brochures and informational posters will be dispatched to the Citizen Information Office (OAC), the Antoni Blanc fitness centre, Christmas Market, Marià Villangómez Library, offices of the Consell de Formentera, Casa del Poble, Casal de Joves, Sant Ferran library connection and the harbour. The campaign was designed by FARO Communications for a total cost of €4,961.

Patrols by local law enforcement
In Councillor Marí’s words: “This year has been a tough one, with many very serious accidents on the highway. Five people lost their lives and, particularly since many of the victims were Formentera residents, the decision was made to devote this winter to building awareness”.

Running parallel with the new push, to ensure drivers are heeding the message, there will be speed checks and drug and alcohol tests by Formentera local police and Guardia Civil.

Youth outreach
There will also be a special outreach campaign among young people. Wednesday, 18 December, at 12 noon, the Sala de Cultura-Cinema will be the scene of an info session for Marc Ferrer High School pupils who are old enough to drive scooters (years three and up).

Councillor Marí will review the main points of the campaign, local police offers will talk about traffic accidents and how to prevent them and an ER doctor will explain how similar cases are handled and what the consequences are. At the end, attendees will hear from victims, who will share their first-hand experiences with the psychological and physical consequences of a serious accident.

Taxi drivers
Finally, the president of Formentera’s association of taxi drivers, José Antonio Ferrer, reminded the entire island that taxis are available 24 hours a day, on Christmas and the other 364 days of the year. The service can be requested by calling Radio Taxi Formentera, 971 32 23 42.

13 December 2019
Department of Communication
Consell de Formentera

Formentera’s president and mobility chief, Alejandra Ferrer and Rafael González, respectively, were in Palma today for a meeting of the Committee on Maritime Transport in the Balearics (Mesa de Transport Marítim de les Illes Balears) chaired by regional mobility and housing minister Marc Pons.

Pons said officials would be sitting down in the off season to talk with ferry companies about the importance of the early-bird and late-night inter-island service, and to ascertain whether any are interested in taking up the cause. An answer is due in two weeks, and will be announced at the next commission gathering, scheduled on Formentera. According to Pons, if no company comes forward to offer 6.00am Eivissa-bound and 10.30pm return service, “the Govern balear will open up bidding and put them to tender”.

President Ferrer highlighted the work invested in moving things this far, and traced the question of first-and-final ferry passage back to 2010, when legislation on maritime transport became law. “These two journeys are very important. For islanders, it’s the difference between making the first daily plane out of Eivissa, getting home at night, visiting loved ones in the hospital or, for young people, completing studies on Eivissa. There are many valid needs at stake here”, Ferrer declared.

The president said early-bird and late-night ferry service must be “not just socially sustainable, but environmentally and financially sustainable as well”. Also at the encounter were the director general of the sea and air transport division of the Balearic government and representatives of regional ministries of environment, tourism, employment, health, and of the Mallorca, Menorca and Eivissa island councils, not to mention the CAEB, APEAM, CCOO, UGT, Marina Mercant, and chambers of commerce across the archipelago.

25 November 2019
Department of Communication
Consell de Formentera

The Formentera Council's mobility department reports that from tomorrow, Friday 1 November, winter hours will take effect across metred parking areas in La Savina, Sant Francesc and Sant Ferran. Meanwhile, in Es Pujols, traffic wardens will cease to enforce the pay-to-park system in zona blava (blue zone) spaces until the start of summer. Elsewhere metred parking will be in force Monday to Saturday, from 9.00am to 2.00pm and 4.00pm to 8.00pm, until 1 May. Parking is free on Sundays and bank holidays.

Cars parked in blue zone spots can remain there up to three days, unlike in summer, when the limit is one day. Green zone (zona verda) spots on the other hand are reserved for authorised vehicles, which can be parked for no more than three days, and La Savina residents carrying proof of residence, who can leave vehicles parked for as many as 15 days, just like in summer.

31 October 2019
Department of Communication
Consell de Formentera