Large cleaning operation: 1,600 kilometers of road verges cleaned for cyclists

More space for safer curves: road verges cleared

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Early in the morning, when the fog still hangs over the bay and the first cyclists roll along the promenade, the same thing often becomes apparent: loose gravel, leaves and coarse dirt at the edge of roads and cycle paths. That should change. In the coming months, the island council plans a large-scale cleaning operation in which a total of 1,600 kilometers of road verges on Mallorca will be cleaned.

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Yes, that's a lot of distance — from the MA-13 to smaller connecting roads around Felanitx or Sa Pobla. The goal is not only that the island looks better. The officials say plainly: It's about fewer falls, fewer breakdowns and more trust for people on two wheels.

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Costs and procedure

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For the operation, around 300,000 euros are budgeted. The money goes into street sweepers, small excavators for rough work and teams that work morning and afternoon shifts. In many towns — I spoke with people in Inca and Port de Sóller — the reaction sounds pragmatic: Finally work is being done on the corners that are easily overlooked.

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“Last winter I slipped on gravel; that happens quickly when going downhill,” says a cyclist from Palma. Such stories have apparently helped move the measure forward.

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What changes for daily life?

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Practically, this means: better visibility of road markings, less gravel at bends and cleaner access routes to cycle paths. Particularly on popular routes — for example around Playa de Palma or along the coastal road near Cala Millor — the teams should work early in the morning when traffic is lighter. This reduces disruption for drivers and speeds up the work.

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Of course cleanliness does not solve all problems: traffic light timings, bottlenecks and lack of signage remain issues that must be addressed further. But this step is tangible and immediately noticeable when you can safely touch the curb again without a risk of falling.

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So in the mornings, when more people are out with helmets and coffee in hand, it may be thanks to one of our road sweepers. A small detail that makes cycling life on the island a bit safer.