The new pedestrian traffic system on the Carrer Joan Tarrida, implemented two weeks ago by the Sitges Town Council and nightlife establishments, has failed to reduce congestion and over-crowding. Last weekend, with the start of Sitges Bears Week, there were already significant crowds of people.
The system was established two weeks ago and implemented at night, initially requiring access to Joan Tarrida street from Bonaire, but not from the Plaza de la Industria. The idea was that circulation would be easier and bottlenecks would be avoided. But the measures have failed to reduce congestion.
Sitges Bears Week – which runs from 3-12 September – has its central point of celebration this year between Joan Tarrida and Bonaire, attracting thousands of people. The safety system to encourage one-way pedestrian traffic, however, did not include warnings or stops to explain to people to follow the one-way system.
There have even been protests, with some who consider that the measures imposed on Joan Tarrida street are discriminatory for gay leisure. Social media posts have included complaints that the ‘controls’ were only in place on Joan Tarrida street but not on ‘hetero’ Primer de Maig street.
As in previous weekends, the beach and breakwaters have also been filling up with crowds of young people and teenagers after establishments close at half-past midnight. Both the mayor, Aurora Carbonell, and the councillor for tourism, Luismi García, have asked the Catalan government to extend the opening hours of nightlife to reduce congestion on the beaches.
Last weekend’s crowding on the beach and breakwaters ended in clashes with the local police and the Mossos d’Esquadra, with three people requiring medical attention.
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