Car dependency, a burden for the future of the Islands

In the Balearic Islands, car dependency has become so ingrained that we often don't question it. For many people, the private vehicle is the first choice for almost any journey, even for distances that could be covered on foot or by bicycle. Turning the car into an extension of one's own body speaks to a society that for decades has understood mobility as something individual rather than a collective good.

This is no coincidence. Almost a century ago, the Balearic Islands dismantled a large part of their railway network, which connected different regions, and opted for a model of roads and highways that has shaped how we get around. Public resources have been allocated to making car use easier and more convenient: new roads, more roundabouts, parking lots. Public transport, meanwhile, has grown in fits and starts, with structural deficiencies that we still suffer from.

It is true that progress has been made in recent years. And free public transport has been a turning point, with a significant increase in users: in the first month of 2023 alone – the first month after it became free – Palma's EMT (municipal transport company) registered 54% more passengers. But despite this encouraging figure, limitations remain evident. In Mallorca, there are still around forty villages without connections to the neighboring municipality; in many rural areas, buses don't run, and at night public transport is practically nonexistent. If someone wants to have dinner out and return home without a car, they can't. This not only creates territorial inequality – between those who can get around and those who can't – but also perpetuates a way of understanding mobility that is no longer sustainable. We can no longer think that the only way to get somewhere is by car. It is necessary to invest, and much more so, in alternatives: more routes, more frequent service, more trains. But it is also necessary to make public transport attractive, with reasonable service, information points, punctuality, and, among other things, safe and efficient connections. It must be, literally, a better option than the car. However, this change of model won't come about by decree alone. It requires a profound cultural transformation. We must understand that moving collectively is smarter, more economical, and more responsible towards the territory we share. The Islands cannot afford to continue expanding roads as if there were no limits to space or resources. There is no room to give up on a more sustainable future model. Mobility is an expression of how we understand life in community. If we want more livable and cohesive Islands, we must break our dependence on cars and decisively commit to efficient, friendly, and competent public transport. It is the fastest and safest way to move towards a more sustainable territory and a freer citizenry.