PROPERTY SEARCH
Cabo de Palos launches shuttle bus and rental bikes to tackle summer parking problems
A shuttle service linking the park-and-ride facility with the lighthouse will begin operating from June 26
Visitors heading to Cabo de Palos this summer will have new ways to get around, as local authorities introduce a shuttle bus service and expand a bike-sharing scheme in an effort to tackle the area's long-running parking problems.
The measures have been approved by the La Manga Consortium and Cartagena City Council, following years of complaints from residents about the shortage of parking spaces and the growing number of illegally parked vehicles during the summer months.
One of the biggest changes will be the launch of a shuttle minibus linking the park-and-ride facility on Calle Brezo, next to the former cinema, with the Cabo de Palos lighthouse.
The service will begin operating on June 26 and will run every Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer. Buses will operate every 30 minutes, giving visitors an alternative to driving directly into the town centre.
The move is designed to make better use of the more than 200 parking spaces created at the park-and-ride site last year, which officials hope will help reduce congestion in one of the Costa Cálida's most popular destinations.
Cartagena Mayor Noelia Arroyo described the new measures as "very important for improving mobility and accessibility" and said the shuttle bus was "a much-demanded service".
She added that the new route would make the parking area "a real and viable solution for many of the residents and tourists who visit us during these peak summer months."
According to Ms Arroyo, the initiative will also help "improve traffic flow and safety in the Cabo de Palos area", adding that the council continues to work with residents, businesses and the local district board on longer-term solutions.
The consortium has also renewed its agreement with Transportes Urbanos de Cartagena (Tucarsa), ensuring the continuation of public transport services on several intercity routes. Line 43 will continue operating between Cartagena and Cabo de Palos and will now include a stop at the park-and-ride facility.
Alongside the bus service, Cabo de Palos and La Manga are also benefiting from Cartagena's recently launched municipal bike-sharing scheme.
The service currently offers 46 bicycles spread across 19 collection and drop-off points, with the fleet expected to increase to 70 bikes in the coming days. Since launching just ten days ago, the system has already recorded around 3,000 journeys.
Another improvement announced for this summer is the introduction of assisted bathing at Levante beach. The addition means Cartagena will now have four beaches offering the service, which is designed to help people with reduced mobility and disabilities enjoy easier access to the sea.
Ms Arroyo welcomed the move, describing it as "good news for people with reduced mobility, for people with disabilities, and ultimately, for improving the equality of opportunity that we want for everyone."
Image: Turismo Region de Murcia
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