Santa Cruz Launches Mobility Ordinance Consultation
The Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council has initiated a public consultation on its new Mobility Ordinance, seeking input from various groups until February 14 to update traffic rules and enhance safety, accessibility, and sustainable travel.
The Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council has started asking the public for their opinions on a new set of traffic rules, called the Mobility Ordinance. They want various groups to get involved, including pedestrians, people with disabilities, shop owners, transport companies, cyclists, and users of personal mobility vehicles (like e-scooters), as well as general citizens. Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez explained that this initial public consultation is the first step to meet legal deadlines. After this, they will create the final plan, along with a report on its potential impact.
The mayor also outlined the next steps: the proposed rules will first go to the city council for initial approval. Then, the public will have another month to review them and provide feedback. After this period, all comments will be gathered, and the rules will be changed if necessary. He stressed that these new rules are crucial because the city needs an updated plan to handle new situations and different ways people travel, ensuring they can all share the city's spaces safely with pedestrians.
Mobility Councilor Evelyn Alonso explained that the questions for public input, available on the city's website, are divided into four main areas. These cover: the problems the new rules aim to solve; why these rules are needed and timely; what the goals of the rules are; and potential solutions, both within and outside of regulations. She reminded everyone that the deadline for submitting feedback is February 14.
Alonso further detailed that the first section of the consultation focuses on creating new traffic rules to address both long-standing and new issues affecting how people move around the city. The second section clearly highlights that these rules are essential for improving safety, accessibility, sustainability, and how everyone coexists in the city.
The councilor added that the third area for discussion concerns the goals of these new rules. Broadly, these aim to manage how vehicles, bicycles, personal mobility devices, and pedestrians move around, while also ensuring road safety, prioritizing pedestrian areas, and promoting sustainable travel.