Jaume Henrik Bergas: "We don't want to remove the cars, we want people to be able to coexist on the street."

SinedJaume Henrik Bergas Rydenfors was born in Santa Ponça in 1980. He is the son of a family born from the love that arose from that firstboomtourist. On the one hand, linked to the hospitality industry and, on the other, to farming, to village life. Now, Jaume has been living in Sineu for more than twenty years, where he has promoted –along with other neighbors– the project 'Sined on bike and on foot',An initiative that aims to promote safer, healthier, and more sustainable mobility, especially for children. Bergas studied Geography and went on to study Agricultural Engineering. Now, however, he has dedicated himself wholeheartedly to improving mobility in Sineu, and perhaps even the rest of Mallorca. That's why he's pursuing a Master's degree in Sustainable Mobility. Thus, the initiative that began to facilitate his children's access to school has led him down a different path.

Let's start from the beginning. How did you get here (to the Fossar square in Sineu) to do this interview?

— On foot! Ha, ha, ha! – she bursts into laughter. I came on foot! I've left the car parked for quite a while now. But I have to admit that before, when I went shopping, the first thing I'd do was take the car! I've been driving a lot, a lot, and it's hard to make the switch, I admit it. It's a habit we're all used to, and it's almost like quitting smoking. You have to internalize it.

The second question is also predetermined. You are Jaume Bergas, but also Henrik and Rydenfors…

— I was born in Santa Ponça. My father was a waiter and my mother, who was Swedish, worked as a tour guide. My godparents, from Can Barraca, had been farmers in Sineu. My godfather was a merchant his whole life. Also, when my father was little, they had lived on the Malesherbes estate—within the municipality of Algaida, but closely linked to Montuïri. But in the 1970s, they made the leap to the countryside. They went from being innkeepers, from landowners, to owning an estate; specifically, the one of the same name as...Santa PonsaThe one that gives its name to the whole area. There, my godfather had foresight and they opened a bar in Santa Ponça, in the coastal town. My father, as a child, already worked behind a bar, standing on a Coca-Cola crate. Then, look how things turned out, my godfather would go to Mercapalma on the bus or the truck to buy supplies for the bar. Now it seems incredible to us! Finally, from Santa Ponça I went to Can Picafort, to eventually return to Sineu. It's curious, because many people from the town went towards the coast and I went the other way.

How did 'Sine en bici ya pie' come about? What are its objectives?

— It all started with a personal concern. I have a young son, and due to health issues, we always went by car. Until one day I thought, "This can't go on." When he started walking to school, I realized how dangerous the walk was. And as a geographer, I pay close attention to space. I got in touch with the 'School Environments and Safe Routes' group of FAPA Mallorca and Peatones Mallorca (Mallorca Pedestrians). I started reading about it and created an action plan. That's how the Safe Routes to School initiative in Sineu came about, and from there came the presentation… I tried to convince another mother from the school, in this case, Marta Bergas. And to my surprise, when I proposed it and presented it to her, she said, "Finally! Someone else who thinks like me!" So from then on, we got along very well, and we gave our first presentation in Sineu. The surprise was that about seventy people participated: families, the Town Hall, the Local Police, teachers, nurses… It was a success! After this, we realized that the work shouldn't be limited to the school environment, but should extend to the entire community. That's how 'Sine en bici ya pie' (Sine by bike and on foot) was born.

What is the main objective of the project?

— Children's autonomy. That children can walk or cycle to school on their own, safely. To achieve this, we need to calm the streets: reduce car speeds to 20 kilometers per hour, create shared spaces, and designate residential streets. It's not about banning cars, but about sharing the space better. If cars travel at 20 km/h, we can all coexist with them.

The fact that different streets in the center of Sineu have been paved is in line with your project, isn't it?

— Exactly! We've taken advantage of the work already done, like the paving of Calle Mayor, to incorporate it into the school environment. And what they've done recently is great, but we also understand that it costs €185 per square meter and it's impossible to do it everywhere. The street network currently spans two kilometers.

What concrete actions have you taken to make families understand that they should walk or cycle?

— We started with a survey of families. We took a snapshot of the situation. When we analyzed the data, we saw that those who had answered that they accompanied their children by car were the same people who said they drove themselves. It was a vicious cycle! And that's when we decided to put up signs for the routes. And with just this, we managed to reduce the presence of cars around the school by 20%. So, the motivation is there. We want to ensure that, at a minimum, 80% of the students who live in the town of Sineu walk or cycle to school.

What would you ask of drivers who have not yet changed their habits?

— I'm not asking you to leave your car, or even near it. Just drive slowly and respectfully. Remember that there are children, elderly people, and cyclists on the street, and we all have the right to be there.

Have you received interest from other municipalities?

— I know they're talking about our initiative. In Sencelles, for example, they want to create a school environment, and I know they've been told about our project. What we do here is entirely replicable: almost 50% of Mallorca's population lives in towns with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants. That's the whole plan. If there were funding or institutional support, we could expand the network. For now, we do everything on a voluntary basis, dedicating many hours. And it opens doors when they invite us to explain and share our project.

It also talks about cycling routes and mobility beyond the school.

— Exactly. Children want to ride bikes, but it's often dangerous. We're now working on creating safe routes to other towns like María. It's five kilometers: with a good connection, they could cycle to school or work. AlsoThe Costitx road. If they open this roadIt's five kilometers more. It's not much for getting to school. This is all about the future: sustainable mobility, health, quality of life, and less stress. If the streets are more pleasant, the whole town benefits.

He often talks about reclaiming public space…

— Yes. Historically, streets were for people. Cars have been around for a hundred years, but now they take up all the space. And many people don't even move: they sleep on the street. It's not about banning anything, but about rethinking things. If we have park-and-ride facilities, they should be pleasant and accessible. If people want to sit on the street, they should have a bench and shade. Small changes that make a big difference.

How do you rate the relationship with the City Council and the educational community?

— There's a good understanding, but there's still work to be done. The school is already working on safe routes with the students, and the teachers are participating. But this needs to be a shared effort: the town council, the school, families, senior citizens… Everyone needs to do their part.

The issue of cars in the town square has been a topic of discussion in Sineu for many years…

— Yes, there are sensitive issues, like cars in the square. It's not easy, but more and more residents are asking for car-free streets. We must be able to balance the need for the town to be vibrant and safe.

Finally, what would you like the Sineu, the Pla de Mallorca of tomorrow, to be like?

— We want people to live more peacefully. We want children to be able to walk to school alone without their parents worrying. We want the town to be more pleasant for walking, chatting, or simply sitting on a bench or enjoying the fresh air. We don't want to get rid of cars. We just want there to be space for everyone and for cars to drive slowly. That would be enough for us.