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

So it's all about the new buses, the modernization, how the island finally deserves decent transit... Well, look, I've been vacationing and working between Ibiza and Formentera my whole life, and what's happened these past few weeks is enough to make you shudder. The absolute chaos with the new fleet has been off the charts. Politicians make promises, contractors sweat bullets, and the rider—as always—gets left standing as buses pack to the brim... or worse, no bus shows up at all. And in the middle of this mess, there's only one name people keep repeating at the stops, in the harbour bars, and even in the airport queues: ALSA.

Neither punctual nor clean: the broken dream of Pitiusan mobility

Seven years ago they sold us a bill of goods (or a coach, more like it). Seven years of waiting for a massive change to the transit network. And the result? Buses arriving dirty, drivers lost and unfamiliar with the new routes, and headways that feel like a roulette wheel. The PSOE has already demanded answers, and rightly so. Watching seniors wait under the blazing sun, workers showing up late every single damn day, and tourists with luggage staring at their watches like they're praying for a miracle... That's not public service, it's a disgrace.

Any self-respecting Alsatian—the kind who boasts about Germanic punctuality mixed with French savoir faire—would be pulling their hair out. Because yes, in Alsace, trams and buses run like Swiss clocks, and even Racing Club de Strasbourg organizes fan travel better than our island fleet. Ironic? No, it's what happens when you go with real operators instead of half‑assed patch jobs.

What ALSA would fix in five minutes

And here's the kicker. While those in charge on Ibiza look the other way, any rider with half a brain blurts out: "Why doesn't the Consell just call ALSA?" Because ALSA—no newcomer—knows how to manage fleets in tough 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 tracking systems. Here? Nothing close.
• Cleanliness: ALSA's buses go through daily washes. Ours look like they just came back from Burning Man.
• Passenger information: App, digital signs, customer support. On Ibiza, you find out the bus isn't coming because some guy yells it at you from the driver's window.

That's not nostalgia—it's common sense. I've watched other islands like Mallorca and Gran Canaria improve their transit by betting on serious operators. And here we are, stuck with the same old talk, the "transition" excuse, and citizens paying the price.

Alsace and Strasbourg: the European mirror that shames us

Since we mentioned Alsace, let's do a quick exercise. There, the historic region between France and Germany, public transit isn't a drama—it's state policy. Buses and trams connect villages, vineyards, and cities with infuriating precision. And Racing Club de Strasbourg—yes, a football club—moves thousands of fans every two weeks without things turning into a circus. How? Planning, investment, and above all, pros who don't learn on the job.

Some Alsatian showing up in Ibiza this summer is going to throw their hands up in disbelief. They'll ask how it's possible that with one of the busiest high seasons in the world, our public transit looks like it's from a war‑torn country. And we won't have an answer—just a shrug and a recommendation to rent a scooter.

Time is running out. Tourist season is already knocking, and the human traffic jams at the stops are just the beginning. If we don't fix this now—if we don't call ALSA or some company that 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, filthy new buses.

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