The stretch of Camí de Cavalls that runs along the Me-7 and Me-15 roads, between La Concepció and Ses Salines de Fornells, is a danger to users. Sign this petition and help us find a solution to ensure security!
2078 signatures have been collected so far!
Why this petition?
The Camí de Cavalls (GR 223) contains approximately 30% of urban or interurban sections, which are the least attractive for trail users. Furthermore, some of the interurban sections of the Camí de Cavalls endanger the safety of its users, especially hikers and runners.
The 2.6 km section that runs along the Me-7 and Me-15, between La Concepció and Ses Salines de Fornells, is without a doubt the most dangerous section of the entire Camí de Cavalls, it represents a threat unrelated to the activity and would be easily avoidable.
- It’s a stretch with no space for pedestrians: with very narrow shoulders on the Me-7 and no shoulders at all on the Me-15.
- At some points on the Me-15, there isn’t even physical space for hikers to move aside in case a vehicle fails to maintain the mandatory safety distance.
- On the Me-15, there’s also no space for a vehicle to maintain the 1.5 m mandatory safety distance from pedestrians if another vehicle is approaching from the opposite direction.
- To be able to walk on the left side of the road, as established by the general traffic regulations, you must cross the road at three points that are not designated for pedestrian crossings. This encourages people to walk on the right side of the road, with the resulting decrease in safety.
- Pedestrians have to share the lane with vehicles traveling up to a maximum speed of 90 km/h, assuming they do not exceed the established speed limit.
- Since 2012, thousands of participants in the Camí de Cavalls 360º route have expressed their discomfort and concern regarding this section of the route.
- At 40 Nord Outdoor S.L., we have communicated our concerns about the safety of this section to all those responsible for the Camí de Cavalls at the Menorca Island Council since 2012, but to date, no steps have been taken to improve its safety.
A danger that is not intrinsic to the activity
The danger posed by the Me-7 and Me-15 roads is not intrinsic to hiking, trail running, and mountain biking. Hikers, trail runners, and cyclists are used to assuming a set of risks inherent to their activity, related to the fact that it takes place in a natural environment, where there is poor mobile connectivity, limited access routes, uneven terrain, the possibility of adverse weather events, etc.
However, hikers, runners, and mountain bikers cannot assume the exposure to the danger posed by walking, running, or cycling on a road without hard shoulders, with vehicles speeding past, often without respecting safe distances, sometimes distracted by cell phones, etc. Hikers, runners, and cyclists cannot control or manage this danger. Furthermore, it is a much greater danger than the dangers inherent to their activities.
Sign for a safer Me-7 / Me-15 section
The Island Council of Menorca, as the owner of the path, is responsible for ensuring its maintenance, proper use and safety. For all the reasons explained above, all of us undersigned ask the Island Council of Menorca to:
- Design and implement a definitive safety solution. The fact that this is a slow process should not be an excuse to postpone it, but rather a reason to activate it immediately to ensure its implementation as quickly as possible.
- Until the definitive solution is implemented, take immediate action to improve the safety of this section. The possibilities are numerous, such as painting one side of the road a striking color; installing larger signs warning of hikers and adding reminders at intermediate points along the section; limiting the maximum speed and/or adopting measures to control the speed of passing vehicles, etc.
