Additional municipal services are being laid on to ensure social harmony as the city celebrates the festivities for La Mercè from 20 to 24 September. Extra cleaning teams will be on duty, with safe routes established to prevent and detect sexist and LGBTI-phobic violence, plus a non-stop metro service set to provide uninterrupted service through the nights of Friday, Saturday and Monday.
The City Police, in conjunction with the Barcelona Fire Service, the Mossos d’Esquadra police corps and Protection Civil, will be coordinating various measures to ensure safety, coexistence and fluid mobility during La Mercè:
- Organising and regulating traffic.
- Management and control of anti-social behaviour.
- Breathalyser and drug tests.
- Checks on capacity at access points to Plaça Sant Jaume to avoid risks posed by dense crowds.
- Prevention and assistance relating to gender violence, LGBTI-phobia and sexual violence.
The drone service will be activated for the city’s local festival, providing a means of support and information for the security operation. Images from the drones will always be viewed in real time, with no recordings taken under any circumstances.
Prevention and support against sexist violence and LGBTI-phobia
Safe routes are being set up and come in addition to those already established by the city’s police corps in different nightlife areas, enabling people to reach the nearest public transport stops. BCNantimasclista purple points will also be open at night in the following locations:
- C/ Menéndez y Pelayo. From Friday, 20 September, to Saturday, 21 September, 7.30 pm to 3.30 am.
- Bogatell beach. Friday and Saturday, 10.30 o to 3.30 am. Sunday, 7 pm to 1 am. Daytimes, from 12 noon to 8 pm.
- “Associa’t” celebration. At both spaces in the Parc de la Ciutadella and in Av. Catedral, Saturday and Sunday, 11 am to 8 pm.
- Fire run. Passeig de Gràcia, between Consell de Cent and Diputació, Saturday, 21, from 9.30 pm to 11 pm.
- TMB. Marina metro station (Line 1). Friday, Saturday and Monday, 10 pm to 2 am, and Saturday, 11.30 pm to 3.30 am.
Extra cleaning with more staff and vehicles
The special cleaning operation will be stepped up by 1,319 workers, in 543 teams, at nights and in the areas where activities are being organised during the festivities. Some 1,200 selective waste bins will also be temporarily distributed.
Extra services for the music and fireworks spectacular
Extra services will be laid on around all metro lines for the music and fireworks spectacular in Av. Reina Maria Cristina on Tuesday, 24 September. The routes of bus services that pass through Pl. Espanya may be affected, although the necessary steps will be taken to guarantee provision of service.
Extra services will be provided on the 150 bus route to get to activities on Montjuïc mountain.
People are recommended to use the public transport to get to concerts and the music and fireworks display at the beach, particularly the metro.
Bus services that pass through Passeig de Gràcia and the route between Carrer Pelai and Plaça Sant Jaume may be affected, respectively, for the fire run on Saturday, 21, and the procession on Tuesday, 24.