The Minister of Transport of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Marcos Bergaz attended the meeting organized by the regional Minister of Public Works, Transport and Housing, Sebastián Franquis, together with the ministers of the sector of the seven island councils. This meeting served to discuss the coordination on the extension of measures to promote public transport that will be carried out from the first day of next year.
Following the announcement made by the Government of Spain, to establish free public transport throughout the year 2023, the regional executive and the island councils have addressed the implementation of this historic support measure, which replaces the 50% discount applied since September, and which agree that "it should benefit those who use public transport the most".
Bergaz recalled in the subsequent press conference that "in Lanzarote we are ahead of the free transport that will be applied in the Canary Islands from January 1, 2023, because since September workers and students can travel for free on the buses of the island transport service", referring to the aforementioned deduction present in the lands of Lanzarote since the month of September.
"It was a commitment assumed and fulfilled by the government headed by María Dolores Corujo, which is now confirmed by the new measures adopted by the State and which will be extended to the entire year 2023", continued the minister.
"With this we contribute to citizens making use of public transport, rewarding the people who use this form of collective mobility the most, which is more respectful with the environment and reduces the carbon footprint", Bergaz stressed.
It should be noted that the Cabildo of Lanzarote on September 1, as the President of the Cabildo, Dolores Corujo, pointed out at the time, "increased aid to public transport users as never before, including free travel to those who met certain minimum requirements. This was possible thanks to the Cabildo's own resources, which were added to those from the State and the Autonomous Community".
Increase in demand
The implemented aid has meant in Lanzarote an increase in the number of people who use public transport, as evidenced by the data from the months of September and October. Specifically, in September there has been an increase of 5.22% in the number of trips made, compared to the month of September 2019, the last year before the pandemic. While in October the increase has reached 9.71% compared to the month of October 2019.
Free passes for workers and students from September 1
The island corporation recalls that since the month of September, students and workers can travel for free by bus. In the case of workers, the bonus of the Canary Resident Frequent Use Pass for work reasons was extended to 100%.
To benefit from this measure, it is required to be an employee or self-employed and be a resident. For this purpose, users who already have the Canary resident pass must request validation, attaching the responsible declaration with which it is accredited that they meet the conditions to access the free service.
The person benefiting from this additional bonus is obliged to make frequent use of the pass, having to make at least 20 trips for each of the months of September, October, November and December 2022 or, failing that, at least a total of 80 trips in the period between September 1 and December 31, 2022, both inclusive.
The new frequent use pass is personal and non-transferable, valid for unlimited travel between any origin and destination in the regular intercity passenger transport in Lanzarote. Failure to comply with the requirements of the beneficiary may mean the reimbursement of the total amount of the additional bonus received, whose total amount is 40 euros for the entire period (September 1 to December 31) or 10 euros per month.
To obtain the free pass for frequent travelers it is necessary to request it preferably on the Arrecife Bus website or at the Arrecife Bus Station. For more information, you can go to the Arrecife Bus Face-to-face Service office located in the Arrecife Bus Station itself, from Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 18:30 hours and Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 09:00 to 13:00 hours or call 928 811 522 during the same hours.