The future expansion of the Palma metro to Son Espases hospital, which has already been released for public information and represents one of the most ambitious mobility actions in the short term by the Government, crosses areas with a high risk of flooding. The project incorporates an environmental impact study that confirms this structural condition, as it affects all proposed alternatives and can determine both the final route and the environmental viability of the project.

Palma will have a new metro line connecting the Intermodal Station with Son Espases University Hospital in just ten minutes. The infrastructure, expected to be operational by 2033, will represent a significant expansion of the urban rail network and improve connections to several neighborhoods and key facilities in the city. The project envisions a route of approximately six kilometers, although only four will be newly constructed and entirely underground. The line will depart from the Intermodal Station and utilize the existing Jacint Verdaguer and Son Costa stations, extending with new stops at Son Hugo, Son Rossinyol, Son Espases, and Secar de la Real, before reaching Son Serra Perera.

Traffic jams on Palma's ring road, in the Genoa tunnel, and queues on Mallorca's main roads have become a common sight, especially during peak season. "Investing in Mallorca" was one of the major campaign promises of the President of the Council of Mallorca, Llorenç Galmés. Halfway through his term, Galmés proclaimed that his government had fulfilled "more than 80% of its roadmap." But this major campaign promise has yet to be delivered, and the countdown to the next elections has begun.

MÁS per Mallorca proposes that large commercial establishments and other infrastructure that generate high traffic flow should reimburse public funds for a portion of the associated costs. The party has urged the Consell de Mallorca (Island Council of Mallorca) to initiate the necessary technical and legal work to create a special use fee for public roads in cases where these spaces generate a unique and structural level of traffic. Joan Llodrà, deputy spokesperson for MÁS per Mallorca in the Consell, explained that the objective is "to apply a basic principle of justice and responsibility: those who cause intensive and specific use of public infrastructure must bear the resulting additional costs." According to the party, the island's road network is under increasing pressure due to the concentration of large commercial areas and infrastructure on the outskirts and the reliance on private vehicles. This necessitates widening access roads, reinforcing roundabouts, and more intensive maintenance, the cost of which is currently borne by all citizens. The motion proposes identifying sections of road with particularly high traffic volumes linked to major facilities, commissioning individualized mobility studies, and preparing an economic and financial report to quantify the differential cost. It also plans to request the necessary legal reports to guarantee the viability and proportionality of the measure. MÁS has emphasized that the toll, if implemented, would be earmarked for specific purposes, and the revenue would be allocated to the maintenance of the affected road network. Furthermore, these resources would free up part of the Council's ordinary budget to invest in public transportation and sustainable mobility projects. The initiative, which will be debated in plenary session on Thursday, is part of a shift in the model towards territorial cohesion, strengthening local businesses, and reducing dependence on private vehicles. According to Llodrà, "We cannot continue to socialize the costs of an unsustainable model. Mallorca needs responsibility, fairness, and mobility designed for the future."

MÁS por Marratxí has ​​demanded "immediate" action from the local government coalition, formed by the PP and Vox parties, regarding what it considers a dangerous situation on the section of the former Son Horrach estate, between Plan de na Tesa and Can Baló, due to the narrowing of the road and the temporary signage for the construction work. The eco-sovereignist party has denounced that the temporary barriers and signage have created a bottleneck at a point where heavy vehicles and buses circulate. According to the party, they occupy a large part of the available width, leaving minimal space for pedestrians to cross. MÁS has warned that some construction elements encroach on the sidewalk or render it practically unusable, compromising the safe passage of pedestrians. Furthermore, it states that the combination of narrow lanes, vehicle crossings, and bus traffic in an area with regular pedestrian access increases the danger. The party spokesperson, Aina Amengual, asserted that it is unacceptable for vehicles to travel with a reduced margin on a road partially occupied by construction. She demanded clarification on whether there is municipal authorization for the occupation of the public road and an approved traffic and safety plan, and that, if minimum safety widths cannot be guaranteed, immediate corrective measures be taken. The party also requested an urgent municipal technical inspection, that any authorization granted and its conditions be made public, and that the construction company be required to reinforce signage.

Tensions between the Palma City Council (Cort) and the Local Police have entered a new phase. In addition to those caused by the stalled Urban Development Plan, which have led to protests in front of City Hall and boycotts of the mayor at public events, there are now further developments. complaints of alleged arbitrary internal mobility And the conflict over the use of the Estacions park as a police parking lot. The force is parking its vehicles there despite a report against it from the Mobility Department, which rejects the requested road modifications in the vicinity of the new police station. The technical assessment is unequivocal: the space "does not meet the minimum requirements" for road safety or urban planning to accommodate a permanent surface parking lot. This new front further complicates the management of the force by the mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez.

The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has once again activated a yellow alert for fog in the Balearic Islands, affecting practically the entire archipelago except for Ibiza and Formentera. On Wednesday, a flight from Barcelona scheduled to land in Ibiza had to return to Barcelona due to the fog. According to information provided by Aena, this was the only incident recorded at Balearic airports on Wednesday due to fog.

The Train Users Association strongly criticized the elimination of the 'Move Well' bike-sharing service, a decision it considers "unjustified" and which, in its view, represents a further obstacle to promoting the use of public transport in Mallorca. The association regrets the removal of a service that facilitated mobility for travelers arriving in Palma, especially those who need to travel from the Intermodal Station to their final destination. According to the association, the service's withdrawal contradicts European recommendations to reduce private vehicle use and promote rail travel to combat climate change. They point out that more than 100,000 cars enter Palma every day and more than 300,000 travel on the ring road, while the train registers around 11,000 daily users. "Eliminating incentives like 'Move Well' does not help to reverse this trend," they warn. The organization also denounces that the Mallorca Rail Service is operating at its limit, with structural deficiencies that prevent increased frequencies, reduced journey times, and service reinforcement due to staff shortages. Furthermore, they lament the progressive loss of services and attention to stations, many of which have been left without staff and with fewer amenities for passengers. Regarding the proposed alternative, the BiciPalma service, users believe it does not fulfill the same function, as it is not free for public transport passengers, is not designed for occasional users, and is not accessible to everyone. In this sense, they conclude that the elimination of the 'Mou-te bé' service is part of a trend toward the "dehumanization" of the service and a lack of a clear commitment to making public transport more attractive compared to the current model based on private vehicles.

Intercity public transport in Mallorca reached another record high in 2025. Throughout the past year, the train, metro, and TIB buses carried a total of 41.3 million journeys, a figure that consolidates the upward trend of recent years and places the system above the 40 million user mark. This data represents a 5% increase compared to 2024 and a 23% increase compared to 2023, two years in which public transport was also free for users. Growth, therefore, continues despite the normalization of service and confirms a gradual shift in mobility habits on the island. By mode of transport, TIB intercity buses accounted for the majority of journeys, with 29.7 million trips, 5% more than the previous year. The train recorded 9.2 million users, a 4% increase, while the metro saw the greatest growth, with 2.4 million journeys, an 11% increase. One of the most relevant elements of the data is the growing proportion of residents, who now represent 76% of total users. Overall, the use of public transport by the resident population increased by 8%, with a 9% increase in intercity buses and a 6% increase in rail services. This means that 94% of train and metro journeys are made by Mallorca residents, as well as 68% of journeys on TIB buses, an indicator that points to the consolidation of public transport as a regular option beyond peak tourist seasons.

Workers at Mallorca Railway Services (SFM) have agreed to call partial strikes to demand improvements in the safety of the island's rail network. The decision was made at a meeting held today at midday following the fatal accidents in Adamuz (Córdoba) and Gelida (Barcelona), according to the SFM works council. The approximately 70 workers, out of a total of 190, who participated in the meeting expressed their overwhelming support for the call for partial strikes. Only four votes were cast against. The works council will meet on Wednesday to finalize the details of the protests, which will begin with low-intensity actions to minimize disruption to passengers. The sources consulted indicated that it would be desirable for an agreement to be reached with the Government to implement the demanded safety improvements before these partial strikes could take place (which could begin ten days after the ballot was registered with the Tamib). The assembly, despite the willingness to reach an agreement with the public company, was "phlegmatic" and served as a platform for workers to outline the problems identified in each of SFM's areas. Shortly before the meeting, the president of the works council, Ricardo Más, had already assumed that the workers would demand the calling of the partial strikes. "After so long being ignored, the only thing left for us is collective action," he emphasized. "If the company doesn't want this to affect users, we must sit down and talk about safety improvements," he added.

The Formentera Council has presented to the Council of Entities a multi-year proposal for the continuity and evolution of Formentera.eco, the initiative of the smaller Pitiusa island to regulate vehicle access during the summer. The proposal aims to gradually reduce the entry of the most polluting vehicles, distribute visitor quotas according to environmental criteria, and maintain the quota of rental vehicles, which have already decreased by 16% from 2019 to 2023This proposal is based on the technical reports submitted to evaluate the operation of the island's ecological initiative, which reveals that more than 74% of the vehicles circulating in Formentera this summer belonged to tourists. The reports confirm the effectiveness of the measures implemented through the Formentera.eco program and should serve as the basis for defining the multi-year proposal to regulate the entry and circulation of vehicles on the island for the period 2026-2029, Castelló explained. The Minister of Mobility and the Environment, Verónica Castelló, explained that they are also considering creating a specific quota for non-resident workers and consolidating a more efficient, organized, and sustainable mobility model, moving towards a seasonal Low Emission Zone (LEZ) and promoting the use of public transport and bicycles.

Palma will implement traffic restrictions in the city center this Saturday, January 10, to mark the start of the San Sebastián 2026 festivities. The closures will affect several streets around the Plaza de Cort, where the traditional opening ceremony of the festivities will take place, with the aim of ensuring the safety of attendees.

The Taxis-Pimem association has asked the Balearic Government to reject the granting of nearly 10,000 licenses for ride-hailing vehicles (VTCs) in the Balearic Islands, arguing that it would be "a catastrophe" leading to the "complete collapse" of all transportation options in the islands. This statement was made by the president of the taxi drivers' association, Biel Moragues, after a meeting held this Wednesday at the Consolat de Mar with the President of the Government, Marga Prohens, and the Minister of Housing, Territory, and Mobility, José Luis Mateo. The meeting served to assess the recent rulings by the High Court of Justice of the Balearic Islands (TSJIB), which requires the Government to process these applications, which had been denied during the previous legislature, and which questions the potential arbitrariness of the VTC-to-taxi ratio.

Palma City Council anticipates that installing a bike lane on Carrer del 31 de Diciembre will require the elimination of 15 parking spaces and one traffic lane on a section of Carrer de Francesc Suau, as a solution to the removal of the Blanquerna cycling route. This was explained on Tuesday by the Councilor for Mobility, Toni Deudero, during the presentation of the second phase of the bike lane network study. In addition to the proposal for Carrer del 31 de Diciembre and Carrer de Francesc Suau, the plan includes solutions for the Intermodal Station and the Plaça de la Virgen del Milagro. The first phase of the audit identified problem areas in the cycling network and prepared a diagnosis of its current state. This second phase proposes lane expansions and improvements to the most problematic sections, with the aim of enhancing cyclist safety and optimizing urban traffic flow. The study proposes expanding Palma's network of cycling routes by a total of 59 kilometers over the next ten years, starting with 15 kilometers in the next two years. The plan is structured in three phases: short-term (1-2 years), medium-term (3-5 years), and long-term (6-10 years), aiming to reach a total of 167 kilometers of bike lanes in the city. During the first two years, in addition to the 15 kilometers of new lanes, work is planned on 19 intersections where routes converge with pedestrian areas, and sections that coincide with bus stops or waste containers will be corrected, as explained by Deudero. The councilor emphasized that the proposals include general criteria, an estimated budget, and a timeline, although these could be subject to change. Regarding Blanquerna Street, he assured that the intention is to resolve the removal of the bike lane "as soon as possible" during 2026.

The Manacor City Council will once again close Joan Lliteres Street and Cós Square to traffic "to gain public space and boost local businesses during the Christmas and Sant Antoni festivities." Starting this Friday, December 19, and continuing until January 19, these two public spaces will have restrictions on motorized vehicle traffic. According to the City Council, "this is a measure that has already been successfully implemented in recent years during specific periods and is being reinstated this year with a more refined system, based on accumulated experience." The City Council warns that ignoring the barrier will result in a fine. However, "the aim is not to issue fines but to raise awareness that a city center with less traffic offers improved quality of life, safety, and comfort for everyone." The Local Police will also reinforce their presence along the entire stretch of both Joan Lliteres Street and Cós Square. Joan Lliteres Street

The Mobility Delegate, Sebastià Llodrà, highlighted that Joan Lliteres Street "is one of the main commercial axes of the municipality, connecting the station with the pedestrian center. With this measure, we are reinforcing its role as a key commercial and civic space."

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The Balearic Government has begun the first comprehensive upgrade of Palma's Intermodal Station, focused on increasing and improving accessibility, safety, and comfort for public transport users. The project, which will be carried out and is expected to be completed throughout 2026, represents a total investment of €3.6 million. The main improvement is the installation of new escalators. The Minister of Housing, Territory, and Mobility, José Luis Mateo, presented the improvements to the Intermodal Station. This is the first renovation of the station in nearly 20 years, since its inauguration in 2007, and aims to modernize the facilities to create a more comfortable and safer space for users in three main areas: climate control, user information, and the creation of new spaces.

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The PSIB (Socialist Party of the Balearic Islands) has registered a proposed law in the Balearic Parliament and the Council of Mallorca to regulate vehicle access and promote sustainable mobility on the island, citing the "inaction" of the island institution, according to a party statement. The initiative registered by the Socialists is the same text that the President of the Council of Mallorca, Llorenç Galmés, publicly presented on June 13th, about which nothing has been heard since, the statement notes. The Secretary General of the Socialist Federation of Mallorca, Amanda Fernández, has called for the swift processing of the legislation so that it can come into effect next summer. "We've gone three years without taking any action, and we have nothing six months after presenting the law. We don't know if it's due to incompetence or a desire not to upset certain interests," Fernández criticized. "The PP only talks about roads. They have again requested a meeting with the Secretary of State to discuss roads, with a list that they haven't even agreed upon with the other parties," said Catalina Cladera, spokesperson for the PSOE in the Consell de Mallorca.

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The Balearic Islands are celebrating Sustainable Mobility Day with staggering figures. The three island airports – Palma (PMI), Ibiza (IBZ), and Menorca (MAH) – have registered an overall increase of 75% in passenger numbers over the last quarter century. Between 2000 and 2024, total passengers rose from 26.67 million to 46.54 million, the most significant increase among Spanish airports. These figures confirm what many experts have been denouncing for years: the environmental "unsustainability" of the island's economic model, which bases its income on the increase in the number of visitors, with the highest growth rate in the entire country. As for passenger traffic by sea, the figures have almost doubled in less than 20 years. Regular passenger traffic has increased from 3.9 million in 2010 to 7.4 million in 2024, while the 2.5 million cruise passengers represent an increase of one million people between 2010 and 2024.

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When politicians take office, as happened with Llorenç Galmés in the Consell de Mallorca, they rush to find a quick solution to the car problem. And no, adding another lane to Palma's ring road doesn't solve anything. Nor did the left-wing coalition; on the contrary, they spent a fortune to widen several kilometers of the Llucmajor-Campos road. Now, cars from the Migjorn region are more likely to end up in traffic jams. Impulsive engineering leads nowhere when every citizen owns a vehicle. It's necessary, as Maria Llull's report explains so well, to change the car culture that for decades has presented this mode of transport as synonymous with status, freedom, and other advertising attributes that are not only false but have also led to a monumental gridlock. However, the president of the Consell de Mallorca is right, as his counterpart in Ibiza did, when he tackles the root of the problem and proposes limiting the entry of cars by sea. But here's the thing: Vox doesn't intend to approve the text promoted by the majority party in the Consell because "differences can't be made" and Spaniards shouldn't be charged fees to enter the Islands. That's their position. It has nothing to do with reducing pressure on the land and roads, but it's well known that Vox is fed up with that.

]]> 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.

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