Anger at off-road motorbikes using protected hiking routes in Gran Canaria
A group of hikers has reported off-road trial motorbikes riding along pedestrian-only paths in a protected natural area of Gran Canaria, after a confrontation that took place on Saturday.
The incident occurred at around 12:30pm as the walkers were enjoying a sunny day on footpaths linking Pozo de las Nieves with the Caldera de los Marteles, one of the island’s most iconic volcanic landscapes. According to them, they were startled by loud engine noise from behind, when a large number of trial bikes appeared on a narrow trail reserved exclusively for walkers, forcing people to step aside to avoid a potential accident.
The Caldera de los Marteles lies within a rural protected area spanning several municipalities, including Valsequillo, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Santa Lucía de Tirajana, Ingenio, Agüimes and Telde, and is widely used by hikers and nature lovers.
One of the walkers says they calmly challenged the riders about their behaviour and the apparent breach of regulations. They claim the response was mocking and dismissive, with several riders making derogatory remarks. One rider allegedly made provocative comments while addressing the walkers, while others laughed off the complaint.
The group also reports that several of the motorcycles appeared to have their number plates deliberately obscured, either covered in mud or hidden with items of clothing such as a sock, making identification difficult. This practice can be a serious offence under environmental and traffic regulations.
One member of the group contacted the Guardia Civil to alert SEPRONA, the specialist environmental protection unit. However, the hikers say they received no immediate response and that the incident was not formally logged at the time.
The use of motor vehicles in protected natural spaces is regulated in the Canary Islands and can lead to fines and other sanctions, particularly when vehicles leave authorised routes or enter pedestrian-only areas.
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