Residents of the island of Vormsi have obtained special stickers that allow them to use the ice road that leads from the island to the Estonian mainland without a queue; this was done because the influx of tourists is hindering the movement of locals, writes ERR News.
The ice road across the Baltic Sea, which was opened a week ago for the islanders, is currently the only way to reach the mainland – ferry traffic has been impossible for more than a week. Given the forecasts for rising air temperatures, it is not known how long Estonians will be able to use the ice roads.
This year, the ice roads were opened for the first time in eight years, and have attracted tourists from both Estonia and other countries. On weekdays, about a hundred cars travel between Vormsi and the mainland per day, but on the 21st of February alone, 160 cars had already traveled the road in a few hours. About 180 people live on the island in the winter, and about a hundred car stickers have been issued. Erki Savisaar, the mayor of the rural area of Vormsi, said that the stickers were specially designed for the weekend, as a large number of interested people were expected to arrive, and with the stickers on the car, locals can clearly show that they live on the island and are going home.
The opening of the ice road has made life much easier for the islanders, and various services can now also reach Vormsi.
There have also been arguments among those waiting in line about why some drivers do not have to wait to go to the island. Meanwhile,
the residents of Vormsi are irritated that tourists do not follow the rules – they do not observe speed limits,
and some have fun by skidding. The rules for using the ice road also stipulate that at least 250 meters must be kept between cars, but the program Aktuaalne kaamera observed on on the 21st of February that this does not always happen.
Tourists are surprised by the strict rules, and foreigners who arrive in a rental car that is too low or whose driver has overestimated his abilities are often not allowed on the ice road at all. On the 21st of February, a French family who had arrived from Tallinn in a Bolt Drive rental car did not get to the island – their car got stuck in the snow several times at the very beginning of the road.
Neeme Söderholm, the supervisor of the Vormsi ice road, said that problems arise when a car gets stuck in the snow, but those inside sit and wait, and then he has to tell the drivers to take action – push the car out, dig, or do something else. He mentioned the case on the 21st of February, when a car full of Indian citizens arrived. It got stuck in the snow, and instead of the driver staying behind the wheel, everyone in the car got out to push the car out.
Despite the sometimes absurd behavior, tourists were welcomed to the island, and cafes that had been closed for the winter season had reopened. Vormsi entrepreneur Liina Jutt said that the island had been as active for two weeks as it had been in the summer.
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