Human statues will move to the lowest part of Barcelona’s Rambla
Barcelona City Council will apply a tax in order to exercise the profession, aiming for more professionalism. The reform also wants to regulate an activity that on some occasions blocks the circulation of pedestrians in the middle parts of Les Rambles.
Barcelona (ACN).- As from April of this year, the City Council of Barcelona will relocate the human statues from the central part of Les Rambles to the bottom end of the street, known as La Rambla de Santa Mónica. Authorities will also apply a tax on those who want to work there as human statues, in order to control their number. The aim of this decision is to improve pedestrian’s mobility and guarantee the safety of passersby.
One of the main worries of Rambla Viva, an organisation grouping the City Council, shopkeepers, neighbours and other associations, was mobility problems caused by the human statues and the comparative injustice when compared to other activities on the boulevard and their artistic quality. Since the statues are normally placed on the narrowest side of Les Rambles, they generated crowds that blocked the free circulation of pedestrians. Furthermore, those crowds indirectly brought about petty crimes, such as pick pocketing. On top of this, the crowds also interfered in the activities of the kiosks, the flower stalls and the terraces of bars and restaurants.
In order to solve these problems, Barcelona’s town hall has decided to move these human statues to La Rambla de Santa Mónica, which is wider and nearer to the port. Another measure soon to be introduced is the application of a municipal tax and a register of the statues. The City Council will designate a qualified jury who will evaluate all the artistic proposals and decide on which ones can develop the activity in La Rambla.