The Formentera Office of Mobility reports that 7 September marked just over three years since local government’s introduction of a ceiling on the vehicles which can be brought or driven on the island in summer. In 2021 implementation of the initiative was extended by two weeks to include the last week in June and the first in September.

Data compiled by the Consell de Formentera indicate that, on any given day during the 76-day enforcement period (24 June to 7 September), an average of 17,963 vehicles were authorised to be parked or operated on local roads. However, factoring for July and August alone (the regulatory period observed prior to 2021), the average was 18,138, or 4.4% lower than the 2020 average (18,969).

In month-to-month terms, an average of 16,170 vehicles were authorised to be parked or driven on the island in June. The average in July was 17,578 (down from 18,322 the previous year) and in August it was 18,697 (down from 19,616). The average number of cars on the road in September 2021 was 18,201.

The following is a seasonal breakdown by vehicle type and drivers’ place of residence:

August comes with spike in formentera.eco permit requests from visitors

In the regulatory scheme’s third year, quotas for visitor vehicles were maxxed out in August — a repeat of the previous year.

And, on five days in August (Saturday the 14th, Sunday the 15th, Monday the 16th, Thursday the 19th and Friday the 20th) quotas for privately owned vehicles were reached as well. In August 2020, quotas were attained on four days: Thursday the 13th, Friday the 14th, Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st.

As for the maximum number of motorbikes, that ceiling was also hit on eleven days in August: from Saturday the 14th to Sunday the 22nd, Thursday the 26th and Friday the 27th. Last year, it happened four days: Thursday the 13th, Friday the 14th, Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st.

Summer peaks

formentera.eco

In summer 2021, the vehicle ceiling was set at 20,591: four per cent lower than in 2020 (21,487) and eight per cent lower than in 2019 (22,382). The ceiling is expected to be lowered 8% over the next two years.

Early conclusions

While 2021 data must still be analysed and checked against an August traffic flow study whose findings are due for release in October, mobility chief Rafael González asserted that formentera.eco had “reached its year-three objectives”. While he conceded that “traffic remains excessive and rush-hour slowdowns persist”, González said those two points meant continuing to lower the vehicle ceiling in the years ahead would all the more crucial. “Formentera must push ahead shaping an increasingly sustainable brand of mobility that’s not only appropriate to the our island’s carrying capacity, but palatable for residents and visitors”, he added.

González praised the scheme’s rigourous enforcement and hailed the absence of major adjustments to make or incidents to report. He also welcomed “the spirit of cooperation shown by the ferry companies, who have kept travelers in the loop these last two months, and the overall compliance of car rental agencies”.

Consell d’Entitats

Councillor González concluded by reporting that when complete data become available in October, the Consell d’Entitats would hold meetings with stakeholders in the island’s social and business spheres to take stock of the third season and look ahead towards 2022.

14 September 2021
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

The Formentera Department of Mobility has acquired a mobile apparatus to check that vehicles on local roads are duly accredited during the period of formentera.eco enforcement.

The new control system —two cameras, a tablet and modem— has been fitted into an electric vehicle emblazoned with the Consell de Formentera and formentera.eco logos. The cameras read number plates and check whether vehicles in question have an associated formentera.eco authorisation.

Mobility chief Rafael González explained that patrols, conducted by FDM staff, would take place at distinct times throughout the day.

Priced at €16,123.25, the new system, which relies on increased patrols to ensure regulations are respected, is in addition to two cameras already installed in La Savina. Those cameras scan and control the number plates of all vehicles entering and exiting the island.

This year, formentera.eco’s third, anyone operating a vehicle on local roads between 24 June and 7 September must possess the proper accreditation in order to do so. Drivers who fail obtain formentera.eco accreditation face minimum fines of €1,000.

13 August 2021
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera

The Formentera Department of Mobility is pleased to report that Friday 6 August marks the start of a new, 10-day study of traffic density and flow on local roads. Mobility chief Rafael González said the push would mean tallying pedestrians, cyclists, motorbike riders, motorists, bus riders and cab hailers to “see where mobility is at on Formentera today”.

The initiative is included in Formentera’s Sustainable Mobility Plan, with similar efforts completed in 2017 and 2019. “This time we’ll be able to hold our findings against data from previous years”, added González, hoping the work would enable the FDM to “track changes in local mobility and weigh the effect of regulatory changes”.

Traffic flow
At peak hours of congestion during the first half of August, crews will conduct tallies of drivers, passengers and vehicles and classify them by vehicle type.

With a mix of hand and machine counts, the researchers will gauge use of Formentera’s green trails among pedestrians and cyclists as well as the popularity of publicly-subsidised transport like buses and taxis. In the port of La Savina, the initiative will also involve a visitor head count and survey, in which participants are queried on how they get around and whether they are staying overnight.

6 August 2021
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera

The Formentera Departments of Mobility and Interior report that this July, 11 rental vehicles towed from the overflow lot across from Plaça de les Illes Pitiüses in La Savina have been impounded by municipal authorities for failing to display required parking permits. The €90 fines are issued by parking attendants, with motorists also on the hook to repay towing costs. None of the cited vehicles displayed the identification required of rental cars, so their owners face additional fines of up to €1,000. Failure to possess accreditation to drive and park on the island means tertiary fines faced by vehicle owners could range between €1,000 and €10,000.

In addition, during the month of July Formentera Local Police issued 140 citations concerning unrented vehicles for hire that were parked in public spots in La Savina and Sant Francesc. Depending on the seriousness of cases and the total tally of vehicles, fines vary between €1,000 and €30,000. Again, the cited vehicles were found without the appropriate rental vehicle identification, a violation carrying an additional fine of up to €1,000, and without formentera.eco accreditation to drive or park, putting them on the hook for another fine of between €1,000 and €10,000.

Mobility chief Rafael González explained that these actions are part of a summer campaign to “enforce formentera.eco rules and municipal parking ordinances, whose ultimate aim is to reduce strain on local roads and car parks”. FDE will now proceed to processing the citations.

29 July 2021
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera