The Formentera Council's mobility department is continuing in its push to bring drivers up to speed on the system of metred parking—estacionament regulat—that has been implemented across Formentera's largest towns in recent years.

“January was all about getting islanders on board with the setup”, said department councillor Rafael González, “now we're back with a retooled message for our visitors”, pointing out that the challenge this time was to address some of visiting motorists' blind spots concerning the new system.

Brochures
After an initial unveiling in Catalan and Castilian, pamphlets—plus a website reviewing the ins and outs of the scheme—have been translated for English- and Italian- speaking tourists. Apart from clearing the air on the most common questions, the brochure goes over the mechanics of the system and the hours of enforcement.

Parking attendants and guides at tourist information points will target tourists and rental car outfits with the roughly 2,200 freshly printed brochures—half in Catalan/Castilian and half in English/Italian.

“The real final objective is for car hire companies and tourist information liaisons to send our visitors to www.zonablava.com”, said González, describing it as a dedicated site where drivers can find all the information and get “a straightforward explanation of how Formentera's metred parking system works”.

15 minutes for local business
A pillar of the new system is the recently unveiled 15-minute parking spaces implemented in blue zone areas in Sant Francesc and Sant Ferran. The spaces are free and open to everyone; drivers request a ticket that entitles them to 15 minutes of parking.

González pointed out that the 15-minute spaces are located in strategic points around towns, and said they grew out of a suggestion from local business owners about practical ways to ease congestion and give shoppers a way to get in and out quickly: “15 minutes to get your shopping done, and we're making getting to local businesses easier”.

May 24, 2019
Àrea de Comunicació
Formentera Council

The Formentera Council's mobility department announces the reactivation, Wednesday May 15, of a scheme to limit motorcycle, car and moped access to es Cap de Barbaria lighthouse in 2019. The scheme will be enforced until October 15 in a bid to keep crowds at the monument to a minimum and preserve “Sa Tanca d'allà dins” as a tranquil, natural setting.

Tracing current plans to revive the apparatus to the success of last year's effort, secretary Rafael González said the setup was aimed at keeping crowds at the monument to a minimum and preserving a tranquil, natural setting.

Restricted access to the monument has been in effect the last two years, relying on a road block at kilometre marker 6.5 of the es Cap de Barbaria road. The setup was implemented on a pilot run from July 1 to September 15 in 2017 and June 25 to September 30 last year.

This year the period of regulation will be extended across the entire season to make sure visits to es Cap's far, or lighthouse, and the es Garroveret defense tower are pleasurable—and easy—for tourists and islanders alike.

With parking for 60 cars and 100 motor scooters is available on an adjacent plot, motorists can get out and walk or cycle the remainder of the path to the lighthouse.

Access for people with reduced mobility
During peak visiting hours, 11.00am to 1.00pm and 6.00pm to 10.00pm, an attendant beside the barrier will allow access to people with reduced mobility and provide visitors with information about the new measures.

The Formentera Council has put together a pamphlet that will be distributed at rental car agencies, tourist information offices and the es Cap entry and control point. Posters have also been published and will be posted at various points around the island, including Council bulletin boards.

May 13, 2019
Àrea de Comunicació
Formentera Council

The Formentera Council's mobility office reports that the new blue zone parking on the western side of la Savina port—currently the site of parking for rental cars—will be incorporated into the island's metred or “regulated” parking scheme from tomorrow, Monday May 13.

The system will be unveiled—and will function just like in other parts of la Savina and other towns of the island—as soon as the Council obtains the go-ahead from the Balearic port authority to manage parking in the area.

The move will add 80 extra zona blava parking spaces in la Savina. An overflow parking lot has also been opened opposite plaça Illes Pitiüses.

May 12, 2019
Àrea de Comunicació
Formentera Council

The Formentera Council's mobility office reports that Monday, May 13, operators will begin regimenting vehicle access to the Parc Natural de ses Salines. Formentera residents can continue to park vehicles at the reserve all season long at no charge.

Non-residents, meanwhile, will be asked to pay €4 per car and €2 per mopeds. The price climbs to €5 and €3, respectively, between June 1 and July 15; and reaches its peak between July 16 and August 31 (€6 and €4). The amount will drop again in first half of September and once again from September 15-30 (€5/€3 and €4/€2, respectively).

Access is free for drivers with reduced mobility and those with electric vehicles as well as for walkers and cyclists. Drivers of hybrid vehicles are entitled to a 50% discount.

Controlled access to parking areas near Illetes beach will be in force until September 30. At car parks serving es Cavall d'en Borràs and Llevant beaches, attendants will be on duty from June 1 to September 15. The patrolled entry points will be open from 9.00am to 5.00pm in low season and 9.00am to 8.00pm in high season.

Prohibitions and vehicle restrictions
As part of an effort to foment sustainable forms of transport and safeguard the protected land, four-by-fours are expressly prohibited within the confines of the nature reserve. Plus, controlled access will be implemented for regular and discretional buses as a rush-hour traffic avoidance measure.

Oversized vehicles, such as lorries carrying products to nearby restaurants, are also restricted during peak visiting times.

May 10, 2019
Àrea de Comunicació
Formentera Council