The Canary Islands are advocating for the elimination of the requirement for a minimum of 15 journeys per recharge to access free bus transport, a policy they hope the Spanish government will continue in 2024 due to the benefits it has brought to operators and users. This announcement was made by the Regional Councillor for Mobility, Pablo Rodríguez, and the Director General of Transport, María Fernández, before the resumption of the “+ Bus & Bike” sustainable mobility conference.
Rodríguez emphasized that the conditions which led to the approval of free bus transport a year ago, subject to certain conditions, are still present, as families continue to face significant loss of purchasing power due to price increases resulting from the war in Ukraine.
Confident that the decree’s extension will be agreed upon before 31 December, Rodríguez also referred to the bicycle master plan he promoted in 2018, which included the creation of a single ticket for Canary Islands residents. This has enabled the implementation of a 100% discount for eligible users.
In 2024, the Canary Islands Government plans to promote and develop this bicycle master plan to ensure uniform implementation of intelligent and sustainable mobility strategies across all municipalities. The uneven implementation has been a challenge so far.
The Director General of Transport, María Fernández, highlighted the significant impact of the free bus service, noting that it has attracted 6 million new users over the past year, a 44% increase. The workforce of service concessionaires has grown by an average of 8%, and fleets have expanded by an average of 5%.
The key goal now is to improve the bus service, making it more comfortable, faster, and with better routes, so that it becomes a more attractive mode of transport due to its efficiency and comfort.
Fernández is confident that the funding to continue the free bus service in 2024 is included in the General State Budget for 2024, and she expects the Council of Ministers to approve the extension before 31 December 2023. Once confirmed, the Canary Islands Government plans to redirect regional funds originally allocated for free bus passes to infrastructure investments, such as establishing bus-Vao lanes on the GC-1 and GC-3, promoting the Metroguagua, and purchasing new vehicles.
