One of Mallorca's most beautiful towns has introduced strict traffic rules that affect British tourists. In Soller, local councils have introduced “resident-only” zones in parts of the town, ending the traffic disruption that continues every summer.
The zone applies to 12 of Solar's busiest streets and prohibits car rentals from passing. According to the Majorca Daily Bulletin, the Soller Council has introduced 12 low emission zones. For those visiting, this means that no employment vehicles will be allowed in the very centre of town unless they are registered by locals.
Located north of the largest and most popular Balearic Island, Solar is especially on the way to the port, suffers from a huge number of tourists and traffic in the summer.
The new rules mean that tourists may still drive to Solar, but they must explore on foot away from the centre.
Pep Porcelain, a councillor for mobility, said the aim is for visitors arriving by car to “let them remain parked in a parking lot set up next to Desbio Road.”
Tourists planning on hiring cars in Mallorca are advised to check where on the island you can drive. Driving in one of the new low-emission zones could result in a fine.
Thankfully, Soller is a compact town that is easy to explore on foot. Wooden streetcar services have also been in operation since 1913, running between the town and the port, calling important sites such as Plaza de Spaña, Avenida Cristofor Colom and Satores Square.
Tourists can travel between the port in just 15 minutes, with a reasonable price of 7-10 euros (£5-8).
You can also contact Soller from the capital Parma via train, or reach it with a return ticket of 25 euros (less than £21).
This is the latest in a series of measures aimed at solving the overtourism crisis in Mallorca. In one of the toughest measures ever, guided tours are limited to 20 people, down from the previous maximum of 70 people.
In response, the travel agency is threatening to stop bringing tourists to Palma, claiming it considers the restrictions to be “unbalanced” and “meaningless.”
Aviva President Pedro Fior told Ultima Hora:
Fior believes the 20 limit makes the tour more expensive, meaning that tourists will have fewer impressing businesses in the city. He also made it clear that the agency was “not consulted” about the proposal, and that it was the only measure not included in the draft and that it was not said about it in advance.
