The Platform Against Road Closures held a mobilization against the closure of dirt tracks in the municipality this Sunday in Teguise. The march took place at 09:00 in the morning and started from the Teguise Villa Cemetery.
According to the organization, the demonstration had to end early by order of the Civil Guard, as they insisted it should be finished on foot "despite having authorization to carry it out with vehicles".
The ordinance approved by the Teguise City Council to regulate the transit of buggies, quads, trial bikes, cross bikes, and other types of vehicles through the rural areas of the municipality was on public display from November 21st until Sunday, December 21st.
Amalarico González, one of the neighbors joining this demonstration, told La Voz: "We do not agree with any point and, furthermore, the neighbors contacted me this Monday telling me that they did not intend for the City Council to include all vehicles apart from excursion vehicles, they have made the problem bigger".
"The problem is that they've lumped us all together, and what the neighbors wanted was for the deteriorated roads to be fixed," he continued. Regarding their demands, they pointed out that they want "the City Council to **annul this regulation** because it doesn't benefit practically anyone on the island."
This regulation arose from criticism regarding the constant passage of buggy tourist excursions through the rural roads of the municipality. Residents of the town of Guatiza publicly rejected these excursions, which they claim destroy rural roads in the towns and affect biodiversity. It should be remembered that birds in Lanzarote are steppe birds and nest on the ground due to the lack of trees.