Ibiza's bus chaos: where's ALSA when the island is falling apart?

New buses, modernisation, finally the island deserves decent transport... Yeah, right. I've been holidaying and working between Ibiza and Formentera my whole life, and what's happened over the past few weeks is enough to make you shudder. The absolute chaos with the new fleet has been next level. Politicians make promises, contractors sweat buckets, and passengers – as always – are left waiting at the curb with buses packed to the brim… or worse, no bus at all. And right in the middle of this shambles, there's one name you hear over and over at bus stops, in harbour bars, even in airport queues: ALSA.

Neither punctual nor clean: the Pitiusa islands' mobility dream is shattered

Seven years ago they sold us a dream (or a coach, more like it). Seven years of waiting for a massive overhaul of the transport network. And the result? Buses arriving dirty, drivers lost and not knowing the new routes, and timetables that feel like a roulette wheel. The PSOE has already demanded answers, and rightly so. Seeing pensioners waiting in the blazing sun, workers arriving late every bloody day, and tourists with luggage staring at their watches as if praying for a miracle... That's not public service. It's a disgrace.

Any self-respecting Alsatian – the type who boasts Germanic punctuality mixed with French savoir faire – would be tearing their hair out. Because yes, in Alsace, trams and buses run like Swiss watches, and even Racing Club de Strasbourg organises their fans' travel better than our island fleet. Paradoxical? No. It's what happens when you go with real operators, not half-baked bodge jobs.

What ALSA would fix in five minutes

And here's the kicker. While Ibiza's officials look the other way, any half‑sensible passenger will tell you: "Why doesn't the Council call ALSA?" Because ALSA – no newcomer to the game – knows how to manage fleets in tricky environments. From mountain routes in Asturias to high‑density runs in Madrid or Barcelona, the company has spent decades proving you can deliver reliable service without reinventing the wheel.

• Punctuality: ALSA has real‑time monitoring systems. Here? Nothing.
• Cleanliness: ALSA's buses go through the wash daily. Ours look like they've just come back from Burning Man.
• Passenger information: App, digital displays, customer service. In Ibiza, you only find out the bus isn't coming because some bloke shouts it from the driver's cab.

That's not nostalgia – it's common sense. For years I've watched other islands like Mallorca and Gran Canaria improve their transport when they chose serious operators. And here we are, stuck with the same old talk, the same "transition" excuse, while locals pay the price.

Alsace and Strasbourg: the European mirror that shames us

Since we mentioned Alsace, let's do a quick exercise. Over there, the historic region between France and Germany, public transport isn't a drama – it's a state policy. Buses and trams connect villages, vineyards and cities with infuriating precision. And Racing Club de Strasbourg – yes, a football club – also manages to move thousands of fans every fortnight without chaos. How? Planning, investment, and above all, professionals who don't learn on the job.

Any Alsatian arriving in Ibiza this summer will throw their hands up in disbelief. They'll ask how it's possible that with one of the busiest high seasons on the planet, our public transport looks like it belongs in a war zone. And we won't have an answer – except to shrug and tell them to hire a scooter.

Time is running out. The tourist season is already knocking on the door, and the human traffic jams at bus stops are just the beginning. If we don't fix this now – if we don't call ALSA or any company that actually knows what it's doing – the meltdown will be legendary. Because the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and Ibiza is full of shiny new dirty buses.

So if you see a lost Alsatian in San Antonio asking about the bus, tell them the truth: only faith works around here. Or better yet, bet on ALSA and stop suffering.