A City Breathes Differently: Palma and Marratxí Test Car-Free Hours

A City Breathes Differently: Palma and Marratxí Test Car-Free Hours

When the sun sits lower over the Passeig del Born in September and the delivery van sirens grow a little quieter, you notice: Palma is taking a break from the usual. European Mobility Week runs until Monday, and this year the island capital has come up with small, charming experiments. Alongside Palma, Marratxí is joining in — with bike tours, walks and ideas that come from the neighbourhood.

19 September: Parking Day – parking bays become green islands

Tomorrow, on 19 September, some parking bays in Palma's centre will be transformed into “mini-parks” for 24 hours. If you stroll along the Carrer de Sant Merní or the Passeig del Born in the morning, you might find a bench, a few planters and the scent of herbs lovingly shared by a neighbour instead of a fender. It is not a big spectacle, more of a wink: showing how much space belongs to people when a car is missing.

You hear children's laughter instead of engines, the clack of bicycle pedals, the distant chime of a tram. Such parklets are small pause spaces — for a conversation, a coffee to go or a short sunbath on an improvised wooden bench. The action is friendly, a little ironic and very Mallorcan: practical, neighbourly, with a touch of improvisational talent.

22 September: A day without private cars in the city centre

The bigger test follows on 22 September: on that day there will be a driving ban for private cars in Palma's old town, as explained in Car-free Saturday in Palma's Old Town: plan, park, enjoy. All paid ORA spaces will be closed; details on closures and detours are available in Palma at the Weekend: Closures, Detours and What Residents Should Know. Those who love their car should better leave it on the outskirts — in return EMT buses, the metro and trains for non-residents are free on that day. A small relief that is also an incentive to try the public transport offer.

Yesterday I sat for a while in the Plaça Major and chatted with a bus driver. She was surprised by the many curious questions from passengers — but also pleased by how many people were willing to switch. The bus smelled of freshly cleaned plastic, cicadas buzzed outside, and in the conversations you could feel approval: fewer cars does not mean an empty city, but a different kind of liveliness.

Why this matters — and how you can take part

For some it may be just a day with fewer parking spaces. For others these are small everyday wonders: a quieter pavement, older people reaching a bench without haste, children finding a free space to play again. Marratxí is using the week for bike tours and guided walks — ideal opportunities to discover corners you otherwise miss in the car rush; for other cycle events and related road impacts see Palma on Sunday: Triathlon and Cycling Tour Bring Atmosphere — and Road Closures.

My tip: leave the car, get on a bike or take the bus. Arrive early at the activities on Paseo Mallorca, where schools and neighbourhood groups are often active. If you're adventurous, try a route that you normally drive. And if you like the idea, join the conversation: talk to neighbours, demand safe cycle lanes and more parklets — small ideas, big impact.

Whether the measures become permanent is uncertain. European Mobility Week is a showcase: a test, an invitation. If we take away the feeling that a city without cars is not quieter but differently alive, Palma's short experiment has already won. And who knows — maybe that bench in the parking bay will stay longer than planned.