Welcome the car limitation, but it is not enough
PalmaThe regulation of vehicle entry into Mallorca, just approved by the Council, following those made by Formentera and Ibiza, is good news. It may seem an obvious statement, but it is not, considering that for years saturation has occupied headlines, studies, political debates, and street conversations, and yet, effective measures to limit it have been very scarce. That is why it is fair to recognize the value of an initiative that has also achieved broad political support, with the sole opposition of Vox.
Mallorca needs limits, the Islands need them, because in most of the territory the feeling of saturation stopped being a feeling a long time ago and has become a reality. Collapsed roads are just one of the most visible expressions, but not the only one. There is overcrowding at sea, in natural spaces, at airports, and in the streets. Any measure that contributes to reducing pressure is, in principle, welcome.
However, we should not deceive ourselves. Limiting the cars that arrive from outside will not solve the problem by itself. Mallorca received nearly 400,000 vehicles through its ports last year, a very high figure. But it is also true that the Balearic Islands are among the communities with the most cars per inhabitant in the State, almost one per resident, in a growing trend. We say this because sometimes it is convenient for us to attribute all ills to tourism. And it is true that a good part of the pressure that the Islands endure is directly or indirectly related to it. It is also true that the expansion of tourist rentals has multiplied car journeys. But the data forces us to look in the mirror too: 81% of journeys between municipalities are made by residents, and the most congested roads in Mallorca coincide, above all, with the main work and residential corridors. In other words, a significant part of the problem is generated by us islanders. For decades, we have built islands that are increasingly dependent on private vehicles, while public transport has advanced at an insufficient pace.
The regulation promoted by the Consell de Mallorca is necessary. It will also be necessary to continue discussing other limits that have so far been taboo. But if we really want less congested, more habitable, and more sustainable islands, deeper changes will be needed. More investment will be required in public transport, making it more efficient and attractive, and assuming that not all resident journeys have to be made by car. However, the effort demanded of citizens must aim to reduce pressure on the territory, emissions, and congestion. It is not about leaving free space for the system to continue growing without restrictions. It is precisely about learning that limits are necessary for everyone.
