European Mobility Week: Palma and Marratxí Join In – Parking Spaces Become Green Areas

Palma and Marratxí push for mobility – one day with fewer cars in the city

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If you walk through Palma these days, you'll notice right away: the city breathes a little differently. European Mobility Week is running until Monday, and the island capital has come up with a lot. Marratxí is also involved—not only symbolically, but with concrete actions for people on foot, on the bike, or by bus.

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Parking Day: Parking spaces become mini-parks for a day

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Tomorrow, on September 19, Parking Day is held in Palma. Those walking in the morning along Passeig del Born or Carrer de Sant Merní may encounter small green islands: parking bays transformed for 24 hours into provisional seating areas or planting spaces. It's not a big festival, but a friendly gesture – benches, a few planters, perhaps a neighbor with her homemade herb box. With this, the organizers show that space for people is possible, even where cars usually stand.

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September 22: Palma declares the city center car-free

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A bigger step follows on September 22. On this day, private cars are banned in Palma's city center: Parking on all paid ORA areas is prohibited. For commuters and visitors, that means leaving your car outside the center or switching to other modes of transport. The city wants to test how less traffic affects air, noise and the feeling of the city.

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And yes: For this day there is a small easing – the EMT city bus, the metro and the trains are free for non-residents. This is not only a test, but also an incentive to try public transport. I spoke yesterday in Plaça Major with a bus driver: she was surprised by the many questions from passengers, but also by the willingness to switch.

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Why this matters – and what you can do

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Some will see this as just a day with fewer parking spaces. Others notice that short trips become more relaxed: children playing on the sidewalk, older people resting on a bench, suppliers moving more calmly. Marratxí offers parallel shorter bike tours and guided walks – good opportunities to discover new routes and corners you would otherwise overlook in car stress.

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My tip: If you can, leave the car at home and plan a relaxed morning by bus or bike. Curious visitors should come early – at places like Paseo Mallorca there are often activities from schools, neighborhood associations or small kiosks with information.

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Whether this all stays long-term will be decided later. For this week the rule is: try out, participate, join in. And perhaps take away the feeling that a city without cars is not automatically less lively – just lively in a different way.