Von Jürgen Tesch
Thanks to having my own flat, I go to Tenerife every year – and cycle there on my road bike. My regular route is the TF-47 from Callao Salvaje towards Los Gigantes.
Like all other roads on Tenerife, this stretch is characterised by a very narrow marked lane which merges directly – without any hard shoulder – into a roadside ditch up to 40 centimetres deep.
The TF-47 was resurfaced a few years ago, but no consideration was given to creating a cycle lane or even widening the carriageway. Cyclists are regarded on the island as completely unimportant, a nuisance and second-class road users, as this video here shows, for example.
Are road cyclists fair game on Tenerife?
If, for example, you’re cycling towards Los Gigantes, you’ll have to navigate countless hair-raising situations before you arrive. It’s striking that tourist cars – easily recognisable by their stickers – keep a much greater distance than local drivers.
Reckless behaviour towards road cyclists has increased dramatically in recent years. Cyclists are being jostled, cut off and forced off the road. All this despite the fact that the Spanish government has passed a new law requiring motorists to maintain a minimum distance of 1.5 metres.
You won’t find any road signs to this effect on Tenerife. On La Gomera, these signs have been in use for some time now. It’s only a matter of time before terrible accidents happen, as there are more and more male and female road cyclists on the island, coupled with an ever-increasing, unchecked lack of consideration.
This is where the police should be stepping in, but unfortunately they’re doing absolutely nothing. It’s a shame that people on Tenerife still haven’t realised that cyclists are also potential holidaymakers who simply want to enjoy their sport without polluting the island. Unfortunately, there’s been a complete lack of understanding on this point so far.
No comments on this article yet.