Tenerife Residents Build Own Bus Shelter After 25-Year Wait for Official Action
Frustrated by two decades of official inaction, residents of La Asomada in Tenerife have constructed their own makeshift bus shelter after receiving no response to repeated requests for infrastructure improvements.
Fed up with decades of official inaction, residents of La Asomada in Tejina have taken matters into their own hands. Tired of waiting for a proper bus shelter at the stop connecting the TF-13 road to Camino del Hurón—a request that dates back to 1999—locals have built their own makeshift structure using recycled materials.
This DIY solution highlights a widening gap between official transport planning and the actual needs of the community. Ciro Molina, spokesperson for the 3 Calles Neighborhood Association, points out that while the Cabildo of Tenerife has upgraded bus stops elsewhere, this location has been consistently ignored in budget plans for over 20 years.
The residents’ frustration is fueled by a total lack of communication from local authorities. Over the past year alone, the association has sent 13 formal letters to the Cabildo without receiving a single response. This silence has left the most vulnerable residents—particularly the elderly heading to medical appointments and children on their way to school—exposed to the elements, a situation made worse by recent storms.
The issue in La Asomada is part of a larger, systemic problem across La Laguna’s transport network. Other stops, such as those near the La Talaya building and the "curva pata rajada," also lack basic shelter, suggesting a management style that fails to prioritize the needs of passengers. While the Cabildo’s Mobility Department is responsible for these facilities, their continued inaction has forced citizens to step in and provide for themselves, highlighting a lack of political commitment to public transport.