In many ways Palma was as it was 35 years ago when I visited last. The huge, old buildings were still standing and the main boulevards continued to flow with the energy of the city. However, the shear number of people, both locals and tourists was overwhelming. Simply put, over the past three decades tourism has taken over the town and made it a place I do not want to visit again.
I did however, get to do what I had originally planned which was to pick up my previously reserved rental e-bike near the center of Palma at Call&Ride Mallorca and take it first up to Bellve Castle for incredible views of greater Palma and then down to ride much of the famous Palma promenade. The promenade travels the length of the coast for about 10 kilometers passing in front of Palma proper and along the massively built-up for tourism coastline and beautiful beaches. The promenade is nicely designed with clearly marked bike and separate pedestrian lanes. The bike lanes, for the most part, have lane markings with direction of travel indicators painted on the pathway making easy to navigate.
Like Palma itself, the bike and pedestrian paths were crowded. Especially closer to Palma. There were constant tourist bicycle “pace lines” that I either had to battle to get past or watch closely as they passed right beside me going the other direction – often not really paying attention or staying in their lane.