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

So it's all about the new buses, the modernisation, how the island finally deserves decent transport... Well, look, I've been holidaying and working between Ibiza and Formentera my whole life, and what's been happening these last few weeks is enough to make you tremble. The absolute chaos with the new fleet has been next level. Politicians make promises, contractors sweat buckets, and the commuter – as always – is left standing, watching buses packed to the brim... or worse, no bus 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 shattered dream of Pitiusan mobility

Seven years ago, we were sold a dream (or rather, a coach). Seven long years of waiting for a massive transformation of the transport network. And the result? Buses that arrive dirty, drivers who are lost and don't know the new routes, and schedules that seem to come from a lottery draw. The PSOE has already demanded answers, and rightly so. Seeing senior citizens waiting under the scorching sun, workers arriving late every single day, and tourists with suitcases staring at their watches as if praying for a miracle... That's not public service, it's an embarrassment.

Any self-respecting Alsatian – the kind who boasts of German punctuality mixed with French savoir faire – would be tearing their hair out. Because yes, in Alsace, trams and buses run like Swiss clocks, and even Racing Club Strasbourg organises their fans' travel better than our island's fleet. Ironic? No, it's exactly what happens when you invest in real operators, not in shoddy work.

What ALSA would fix in five minutes

And here's the real kicker. While Ibiza's authorities look the other way, any sensible commuter will tell you: "Why doesn't the Council just call ALSA?" Because ALSA, which is no newcomer, knows how to manage fleets in challenging environments. From mountain routes in Asturias to high-density routes in Madrid or Barcelona, the company has spent decades proving that you can deliver reliable service without reinventing the wheel.

• Punctuality: ALSA has real‑time control systems. Here, not even that.
• Cleanliness: ALSA's buses go through a wash every day. Ours look like they've just returned from Burning Man.
• Passenger information: App, digital boards, customer service. In Ibiza, you only find out the bus isn't coming because a driver yells it at you from the cabin.

This isn't nostalgia – it's common sense. 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 rhetoric, the "transition" excuse, while citizens pay 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 transport isn't a crisis – it's a state policy. Buses and trams connect villages, vineyards and cities with a precision that's almost infuriating. And Racing Club Strasbourg – yes, a football club – also manages to move thousands of fans every fortnight without any chaos. How do they do it? With planning, investment, and above all, professionals who don't learn on the job.

An Alsatian who lands in Ibiza this summer will throw their hands up in disbelief. They'll ask how it's possible that with one of the busiest peak seasons in the world, our public transport looks like it belongs to a war‑torn country. And we won't have an answer, except to shrug and recommend they rent 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 in 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 new, dirty buses.

So here's the deal: if you see a confused Alsatian in San Antonio asking for the bus, tell them the truth – only faith works here. Or better yet, bet on ALSA and stop suffering.