Tensions Rise in Granadilla de Abona Over Sustainable Mobility and Parking Shortages
Tensions are rising in Granadilla de Abona as local authorities, residents, and cycling advocates clash over plans to balance sustainable infrastructure projects with the urgent need for parking in southern Tenerife.
Sustainable mobility in southern Tenerife has become a point of political and social tension, according to a recent report by Diario de Avisos. In Granadilla de Abona, the debate highlights the struggle to modernize urban infrastructure while managing public spaces already strained by heavy traffic and tourism.
The conflict stems from two different views on urban planning. On one side, the El Médano Neighborhood Council is voicing residents' frustrations over the loss of parking spaces. The council’s president, Mariely Casanova, notes that a long-standing shortage of parking has been made worse by the high number of visitors, a concern that led to a public protest last May.
On the other side, a group called Granadilla por la Bici is proposing a different approach: a six-kilometer "green corridor" along the TF-643 road. This path would connect El Médano, La Tejita, and Los Abrigos, providing a dedicated route for cyclists, runners, and skaters. Spokesperson Javier Eköoké argues that this plan would avoid the need to remove parking spaces, as it would bypass residential areas. The group plans to hold monthly marches to build support for the idea.
Marcos Antonio Rodríguez Santana, the Councilor for Public Works, confirmed that the local government is currently drafting technical plans for a coastal connection. Backed by the Tenerife Island Council’s tourism department, the project would be funded by both municipal and island resources. However, the project depends on land expropriation processes, meaning it will likely not be completed during the current term.
This situation underscores the difficulty of introducing sustainable mobility in areas where residents rely heavily on private cars. As the City Council tries to balance the needs of the community with long-term infrastructure goals, the debate over how to use land in Granadilla de Abona continues, showing just how challenging it is to shift mobility models while meeting the immediate needs of residents.