On World Car Free Day, data analysed by IbizaPreservation’s Sustainability Observatory reveals that in 2023 the total number of vehicles on the island was similar to that of 2022, rising from 159,895 to 160,835
Ibiza, 22-09-24 – The motorisation rate in Ibiza continues to be high , exceeding one vehicle per person. According to the Ibiza Sustainability Report 2023 , financed by the Consell Insular d’Eivissa and currently being prepared by the IbizaPreservation Sustainability Observatory , the figure stands at 1,010 vehicles per 1,000 inhabitants in 2023. This figure represents a slight decrease compared to the 1,053 vehicles per 1,000 inhabitants registered in 2022, attributed to the increase in population and the low variation in the island’s vehicle fleet.
In the framework of the European Sustainable Mobility Week 2024 , under the slogan ‘Shared Public Space’ , which today commemorates the World Car-Free Day, the IbizaPreservation Sustainability Observatory has echoed these data provided by the Statistical Institute of the Balearic Islands (IBESTAT) , highlighting the “urgency of reducing the use of private vehicles and promoting the sustainable transport network, such as public transport, bicycles and walking”.
Road sustainability
In absolute terms, the Ibiza Sustainability Report 2023 reveals that the total number of vehicles in Ibiza has registered a slight variation, going from 159,895 in 2022 to 160,835 in 2023 . This slight increase has occurred at the same time as a decrease in the number of buses by 28% (from 423 to 302), and in the number of passenger cars by 1% (from 98,405 to 97,273). According to the Observatory, the long-term trend is towards a significant increase in the number of vehicles on the island.
“The vehicle fleet has grown significantly in recent years: since 2013, it has increased by 28.5%, and since 2003, the increase has been 78%,” explains Elisa Langley, technical coordinator of the Observatory. However, Langley stresses that “the presence of vehicles from other autonomous communities for work or tourism is not included in these figures, nor are measurements of traffic on roads or highways incorporated, which suggests that vehicle pressure is considerably higher than the numbers indicate”.
Faced with this scenario, the Sustainability Observatory insists on the need to promote the reduction of the number of vehicles , betting on strategies that range from greater promotion of public transport and its connectivity, to investment in infrastructure for bicycles and pedestrians, through to the implementation of carpooling policies (sharing trips between individuals) and ridesharing (sharing taxi rides). “These measures are not only beneficial for the reduction of emissions and dependence on fossil fuels, but a shared public space brings many benefits to society, such as greater social equity and a better quality of life”, concludes the coordinator of the Observatory.
