The Spanish capital has registered a significant 36% decrease in private vehicle usage this Friday, compared to the previous week. This notable reduction in mobility occurs on a key day of preparations for the imminent visit of Pope Leo XIV to Madrid and amidst significant traffic disruptions caused by infrastructure assembly.

The mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, highlighted from the Cecilio Rodríguez Gardens that "one in three Madrileños has stopped using their private vehicle." The mayor expressed pride in the citizens' behavior, which has been "decisive" in allowing the installation work of stages and logistical elements in key locations such as Plaza de Lima, the Santiago Bernabéu area, and Plaza de Cibeles to proceed normally, despite traffic restrictions.

The traffic drop occurred without negatively impacting public transport demand. The Municipal Transport Company (EMT Madrid) maintained occupancy levels similar to or higher than the previous week, indicating a temporary shift in habits towards public buses. Furthermore, the seven-day free travel initiative for the EMT bus fleet and Bicimad has broken records, with nearly 70,000 bicycle trips in a single day, consolidating its use as a mobility alternative.

Looking ahead to the coming days, particularly Monday, the greatest logistical challenges are anticipated with the papamobile routes through emblematic sites such as Puerta de Toledo, Gran Vía, the Almudena Cathedral, Puerta del Sol, and the Santiago Bernabéu stadium. The City Council is working to minimize disruptions and expedite the dismantling of infrastructure once the events conclude.

Plaza de Lima, currently closed to traffic, is expected to regain some mobility on Sunday. The Council will also take action in the Serrano-Alfonso XII axis and the area around the Puerta de Alcalá to restore conditions as close to normal as possible following this historic visit.