El Médano Residents Protest Over Controversial New Bike Lane Project

Tensions are running high in the coastal town of El Médano over a new mobility project that has deeply divided the community. Residents have organized a protest for 6:00 p.m. today to voice their strong opposition to the current design of a new bike lane being installed by the Granadilla de Abona City Council.

The dispute highlights the challenge of introducing sustainable infrastructure in a town already struggling with heavy traffic and a long-standing shortage of parking. While the local government—a coalition of CC, PP, and Vox—claims the project will only remove 56 parking spaces, the Neighborhood Council estimates the loss is closer to 100. Residents fear the impact will worsen as the project moves into its later phases.

The bike lane, which is 2.20 meters wide and spans nearly three kilometers, is intended to connect key areas including La Trinchera, El Cabezo, Los Martines, and Ensenada Pelada. However, residents have rejected the council’s proposed solutions, such as peripheral parking lots and new spaces in El Cabezo, arguing that the priority should be keeping parking available within the town center.

The project has a complicated history. Originally conceived in 2022 to connect El Médano with San Isidro, it was redesigned in 2023 under the previous socialist administration to focus solely on the urban area. This change has failed to satisfy critics. Today’s march, which will travel from the Plaza Roja along the Paseo Picacho to the main square, reflects a growing disconnect between local government planning and the daily needs of residents who feel that the push for cycling infrastructure ignores the reality of their parking crisis.