The Balearic Parliament has approved this Tuesday the law to limit the entry of vehicles in Ibiza, promoted by the Consell Insular. This regulation, which obtained the support of all political groups except Vox, gives the Consell the power to regulate circulation and establish exceptions in public spaces, in addition to defining annually the maximum number of vehicles allowed on the island. It also provides for special signs and measures to promote the use of public transport and encourage sustainable mobility. During the plenary session, the socialist deputy Pilar Costa has demanded that the law be applied in full from June 2025, rejecting any attempt at gradual implementation, as suggested by the PP. According to Costa, the regulation must enter into force one hundred percent from its publication in the BOIB, warning that any delay would be “a fraud” for citizens. “This law cannot be applied progressively. That is not contemplated and would be a deception,” said the deputy in reference to statements made by the president of the Consell, Vicent Marí, who had expressed his intention to adopt a gradual approach.
Need to improve public transportation and curb tourism growth
Costa stressed that this vehicle limitation must be accompanied by a significant improvement in public transport, which currently, she said, is deficient and does not represent a real alternative. The deputy has insisted that control measures should not only apply to vehicles, but also to tourist and urban expansion, to prevent the island from continuing to be subjected to excessive pressure on its natural resources. “It is essential to curb the growth of tourist places in Ibiza, because the island faces a resource crisis with a serious drought,” she said.
Criticism of macro projects and urban development
Costa has also criticized the recent public exhibition of the San Rafael traffic circle project, stating that initiatives such as this contradict the measures approved to limit environmental impact. “We cannot continue to move forward with macro road projects that encourage uncontrolled growth. This island needs another approach,” he has emphasized. The PSOE has insisted that Ibiza needs a more balanced development model. Costa has stressed the importance of “growing less” and working on the conservation of the environment, beyond vehicle control measures. “It is not only about limiting the entry of cars, but to apply a real brake on economic and tourism growth,” he added.
