Locals in Majorca Demand Action Amidst Rising Traffic Chaos

The community in Majorca is expressing significant frustration over a troubling new development affecting their daily lives. A local coach drivers’ organization has reported that the Tramuntana Mountains are becoming increasingly congested with an influx of cars, cyclists, and even roller skaters. While they acknowledge that many drivers may not be familiar with the narrow roads, the situation has escalated to one that they describe as irresponsible and dangerously chaotic, contributing to a rise in accidents. The association highlighted concerns over the behavior of cyclists, noting that many descend the mountains at alarming speeds without regard for safety or road conditions. Additionally, complaints have arisen regarding littering and unsanitary practices among some cyclists, who are reported to stop wherever they please for personal needs, both in rural areas and village settings.

The situation has been documented by coach drivers, who have captured footage of cyclists obstructing traffic by riding in the middle of roads, stubbornly refusing to move, alongside large clusters of cyclists blocking major routes. In response to these mounting issues, the coach drivers are urging a meeting with the Council of Mallorca to address and discuss proper road usage in the mountainous regions. As part of their proposals, they are advocating for regulated access times to these roads. Recently, the Council took steps to ameliorate the situation by launching information panels that provide details about parking availability in the most frequented areas, such as Sa Calobra, Soller, and Cala Tuent.

This rising dilemma also coincides with the alarming statistic of 80,000 rental cars currently on Majorca. The Balearic Business Association for Car Rental, both with and without drivers, has argued that the island is overwhelmed by the number of vehicles on the road. They have called for regulations similar to those implemented in Ibiza, where rental quotas for companies are enforced. According to their estimates, car rental firms in Majorca could significantly reduce their fleets by about 30%, which would equate to removing approximately 24,000 cars from the island’s roads.