The Cabildo of Lanzarote, together with the Tinajo City Council, has conveyed some recommendations and advice for all those who in the coming days, and specifically this September 17, decide to go to the Los Dolores festivities in Mancha Blanca. Thus, both institutions have reported on the Security and Self-Protection Plan; the status and closures of roads; safe routes for pilgrims; special bus service schedules; and some recommendations regarding road safety so that the pilgrimage occurs with as few incidents as possible.
The Councilor for Security and Emergency and president of the Consortium, Mónica Álvarez, has detailed that during the pilgrimage an operation of more than 250 troops will be deployed that will begin at 08:00 on Saturday, September 17 and end at 08:00 on Sunday, September 18.
Regarding the safe routes for the pilgrim, the councilor of Tinajo and head of Security, Antonio Morales, explained that the roads that will be closed to traffic are recommended, from the 14th in one direction, and the 17th in both, such as the L-56 road from La Geria to Mancha Blanca; the L-58 from Masdache to La Vegueta; the LZ-409 from Mozaga to La Vegueta; and the LZ-46 from La Vegueta to Mancha Blanca.
Similarly, Sergio Machín, Councilor for Public Works of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, explained that the LZ-20 from Tiagua to Tinajo will be open and operational during the pilgrimage with horizontal and vertical road work signs, "since the paving work is still pending completion." Therefore, Machín has recommended to all pilgrims who pass through that road, to "take extreme precautions and pay attention to the existing signs."
Public Transportation
The Councilor for Transportation of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Ángel Vázquez, has emphasized the use of collective public transportation these days, and especially on Saturday the 17th, the day of the pilgrimage, "avoiding car trips as much as possible". The councilor also explained that during this Thursday there will be a special bus service that will leave at 6:00 p.m. from the Arrecife Bus Station, passing through the San Bartolomé Crossing and arriving in Mancha Blanca. The return on this festive day will be at 9:00 p.m.
For the big day of the pilgrimage, buses will leave from Arrecife every hour from 2:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m., with return from Mancha Blanca that same day from 5:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. The return, on Sunday, will be from 1:00 a.m. and from 2:30 a.m., until 7:00 a.m., every half hour.
The total price will be 6 euros, that is, 3 for the outward journey and 3 for the return journey. The Transportation area also advises to bring the exact price of the ticket and "comply with the preventive rules of conduct and respect for others."
Online Campaigns
Finally, the Councilor for Youth, Sports and Road Education of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Migdalia Machín, explained the Road Education campaign that they are carrying out from the area she directs, "focused mainly on social networks, marking youth as a priority target." "We chose this medium due to the immediacy and ability to reach many people in a short time," said Machín, who also specified that the campaign includes a banner that identifies by colors the actions that are carried out in Los Dolores. Thus, yellow will be the color of the drivers, blue will be the color of the pilgrims, and green will be the color of the buses.
Similarly, the Department of Road Education has edited a video with advice made available to network users at the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne21pfzRx1E&feature=channel_video_title .
In this same line, a video has also been disseminated about the schedules of the special bus services that will be put into operation during Los Dolores, so that "the information reaches all citizens and especially young people." This video is also disseminated through social networks and can be seen at the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YZNqTxJfJA&feature=player_embedded.
The councilors of the areas of Emergencies and Security, Transportation, Public Works, and Road Education of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Mónica Álvarez, Ángel Vázquez, Sergio Machín and Migdalia Machín, respectively, together with the first deputy mayor of Tinajo, Antonio Morales, were present at this press conference.
