Dear Sir, I am not surprised that there are many accidents on pedestrian crossings in Spain. In fact I am amazed there are not more ! Cars are allowed to park right up to and even on crossings, obstructing the view of pedestrians to drivers and crossings are often situated in the most ridiculous places - on or very near to road junctions and roundabouts. When driving round corners I often have to stop for someone on a crossing and I brace myself for another car running in to the back of mine.
Cyclists seem to assume the right of way on crossings too, approaching them at speed and expecting car drivers to be clairvoyant and know they are coming round the corner. Pedestrians here do not usually wait for the traffic to stop and allow them to cross.
They step out and hope. It's much easier for people to come to a standstill than it is vehicles. Better safe than sorry is an old saying that should be heeded more.
K .M Stych
Dear Sir,
A new month and hopefully it will be unlike January where so many disasters happened that will dramatically reduce tourism this year on the island.
A final insult was the fact the Tourist Office has decided to prosecute a number of Holiday Home owners in Calvia after their sneaking neighbours reported them for mainly charging their friends for laundry, cleaning and utilities. They are seeking 30000 fines with no prior warnings as they claim that this is evidence that rent has been paid illegally. It has just been confirmed that package holidays in Spain accounted for only one third of tourists and one third of expenditure in 2011.
People arranging their own holidays, including those renting holiday homes on a short term basis, were two thirds of all tourists and spent twice as much as package holiday visitors. In addition, tourists on all inclusive packages paid no Iva on food and drink, whereas the two thirds did! I challenge Jose Ramon Bauza to a dare.
Will he get a tourist official, name and position openly stated, to confirm in a letter to the Bulletin, that enforcing the ban on holiday lettings on Majorca more rigorously, will not reduce the number of tourists, will not reduce the takings of small businesses in the food and drinks industry and will not adversely affect youth unemployment on the island? If he can, I will pay 1000 to a charity of his choice. If he cannot he must pay 30000 to a charity of my choice, preferably helping unemployed people on the island. Unfair? No, if I rent my apartment for 1000, creating wealth for the island, I will be fined 30000. So the odds are his!
Over to you Señor
Richard Taylor
Calvia