The Office of Mobility of the Consell de Formentera has started automatically renewing authorisations to park in Formentera's metred blue and green parking zones. Until now, renewals were done annually at the request of interested parties, but from this January, the Consell de Formentera will automatically renew authorisations provided motorists:

- are residents of Formentera.
- own the vehicle in question.
- pay the vehicle tax on Formentera.

Rafael González, mobility councillor, said the measure was designed to spare drivers paperwork and the inconvenience of an expired authorisation and having to wait to be authorised again. If any of the three requirements are not met or any document is missing, "the Consell will notify the interested party so they can address the issue in advance and avoid losing their authorisation", he added.

A total of 164 authorisations expired this January, 135 (82%) of which were automatically renewed. Another eight (5%) were rejected because the individuals in question are no longer residents and 21 (13%) did not meet one of the other requirements. The Consell has contacted individuals whose automatic renewal could not be processed. Questions? Send an email to mobilitat@conselldeformentera.cat or call 971321087 and ask for the Office of Mobility.

Finally, Councillor González stressed that residents can park for free in both blue and green zones. Metred parking was launched in 2015 in La Savina in response to the parking problems that existed in that town. "After seeing how well it worked, we expanded the regulated parking scheme to other towns where there were complaints about lack of parking", said the councillor. Metred parking is currently in place in La Savina, Sant Francesc, Sant Ferran and, in summer, Es Pujols.

31 January 2023
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

The Office of Mobility of the Consell de Formentera is pleased to announce that islanders have until 10 January to apply to take the exam to obtain the local chauffeurs' permit. Exams will be held 27 January 2023. Interested parties may sign up in person at the Citizen Information Office or online at the Virtual Citizen Information Office (OVAC).

Details about conditions and the scope of the exam can be found here.

Aspiring taxi drivers must speak the two official languages (Catalan and Spanish) as well as two foreign languages – English and German, Italian or French. Examinees will answer questions related to the municipality of Formentera and rules governing the provision of urban and intercity passenger transport in light vehicles.

Rafael González, councillor of mobility, highlighted a second round of exams on 3 March. "We hope the two rounds will ensure that we once again have 49 permit-holding drivers to assure taxi service", he said.

Under the Public Passenger Vehicle Transport Action Plan, 49 chauffeurs (25 regular permit-holders and 24 seasonal permit-holders) will operate during the 2022-2023 season. According to González, "To improve the public service and ensure that supply fits with current needs, we agreed with the sector to increase total taxis by 29% from the summer 2021 baseline, when there were 25 regular and 13 seasonal permits."

4 January 2023
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

Today the Consell de Formentera will conclude a three-day stint at the Tourism Innovation Summit, which began in Seville 2 November. This trade show promotes innovation, technology and sustainability in the tourism sector. Rafael González, councillor of mobility, took part in a talk titled "Sustainability, an obligation" where he presented the project formentera.eco.

After the presentation at a round table moderated by PR agent Tommy Ferragut, Councillor González shared the stage with the tourism councillor for the City of Palma and the general manager of Garden Hotel, Jordi de las Moras, who also shined a light on their own visions of sustainability.

González unpacked the project to regulate vehicles brought and driven on the island, which turned four this summer, noting, "We have already begun to see the expected results". "Traffic has dropped 8.5% since 2017 and sustainable mobility is on the rise", he said, "cycling is up 150% and taxi and bus ridership have climbed 70% and 2%, respectively, marking a return to pre-pandemic figures".

This is the second year that Formentera has been invited to the expo to highlight its example as a sustainable island. Last year we talked about the Save Posidonia Project and other initiatives.

4 November 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

The Formentera Office of Mobility is pleased to announce that after taking effect on 1 June, the first period of regulated vehicle access and parking on the roads of Caló des Mort and Es Ram concluded on 30 September. Rafael González, councillor of mobility, hailing the success of a measure he said "staved off problems affecting the environment, traffic, parking and emergency vehicle access that affected the area in years past", announced plans to carry the initiative forward in summer 2023.

Rules on access and parking
From 1 June to 30 September, an individual was stationed nearby to inform motorists of rules against parking in these areas and redirect them to the nearby town and parking available there. The new rules were duly signposted, with wood and rope fencing placed around the perimeter of wooded areas to prevent parking. While signs will stay up all year to raise awareness and stop drivers from parking in this natural area, the attendant will take leave from tomorrow.

Motorists may momentarily stop to unload or pick up passengers or facilitate access for people with reduced mobility. Regulations were implemented following a request from residents in the area.

30 September 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera