Teide National Park to Limit Cars, Boost Bus Service Amid Staff Concerns

Currently, TITSA buses only run two routes to Teide National Park each day, one from the south and one from the north of Tenerife. There's also an internal bus route that loops around the park's most popular tourist spots.

A new plan, called the Governing Plan for Use and Management (PRUG), was recently approved. This plan aims to limit the number of private cars entering the main protected area of the Canary Islands. During busy periods, you'll likely need to use a shuttle bus to reach Mount Teide. This means TITSA will need many more buses and drivers to handle the increased demand.

Unlike other bus routes on the island, you can't use travel passes on the Teide National Park buses. You'll need to pay with cash or a card, as these are considered tourist trips. The only other exception to this rule in Tenerife is at Punta de Teno, where you can also use the ten+ card.

Here's a breakdown of the two main TITSA bus routes to Teide:

• Line 342: Departs from Costa Adeje at 9:15 AM and returns at 3:15 PM. It makes 39 stops on its way to El Portillo, taking about two hours. A one-way ticket costs €8.05 per person.
• Line 348: Travels from Puerto de la Cruz station to Teide National Park, leaving at 9:30 AM and returning at 4:00 PM. Stops include El Botánico, La Orotava station, Aguamansa, and the Parador Nacional. The journey takes around one hour and forty minutes, with a one-way fare of €6.20.

Finally, there's the internal park route:

• Line 341: This route operates within the park itself in both directions and costs €2.10. Launched in October 2021, it connects popular spots for both locals and tourists. It stops at El Portillo Bajo, the Visitor Center, El Portillo Alto, Minas de San José, Montaña Blanca, the Teide Cable Car, and the Parador Nacional (Roques de García). Buses leave towards the Parador at 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM, 1:10 PM, and 2:40 PM. Departures towards the Visitor Center are at 11:20 AM, 12:30 PM, 1:10 PM, and 2:00 PM.

Pedro Siverio, a member of the TITSA Company Committee for Intersindical Canaria (IC) and a representative for the northern zone, has worked as a driver for the company for 27 years. He's concerned that the details of the new Teide plan haven't been shared with the workers yet. While he supports improvements to transportation, he emphasizes the need for more buses and staff.

Siverio also suggests changes to the internal route to Roques de García. He believes the current large buses are often nearly empty and that smaller, eco-friendly buses would be a better fit.

Regarding traffic congestion on the island, Siverio believes building more roads isn't the answer. He proposes using "reversible lanes" specifically for buses on the TF-5 highway between the North and Santa Cruz during peak hours.

Over the past two and a half years, bus usage has increased by 39%, with 120,000 new users taking advantage of free travel (since January 1, 2023) and an improved bus fleet. TITSA has also increased its fleet by 18% (247 new buses, with 25 more planned for the TF-1 and TF-5 highways) and hired 360 new professionals, including 300 drivers.

Siverio believes that connecting smaller towns in the midlands to the main roads is key to encouraging people to leave their cars at home. He suggests creating "alternative parking" in strategic areas in the north and south, where people can park their cars and then take public transport to Santa Cruz or industrial areas. He points out that currently, it's often impossible to reach Santa Cruz by public transport from certain areas by 8:00 AM.

The local government also wants to improve transportation to Teide National Park. However, the current TITSA service and resources don't seem adequate to meet the demands of the new plan.