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

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 happened these 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 the passenger – as always – gets left standing, watching packed buses sail past... or worse, no bus at all. And in the middle of this shambles, there's one name people keep repeating at the stops, in the harbour bars, even in the airport queues: ALSA.

Neither punctual nor clean: the broken dream of Pitiusan transport

Seven years ago they sold us a dream (or a coach, more like it). Seven years of waiting for a massive change to the transport network. And the result? Buses arriving dirty, drivers lost and not knowing the new routes, and timetables that seem straight out of a roulette wheel. The PSOE has already demanded answers, and rightly so. Seeing pensioners waiting in the sun, workers arriving late every bloody day, and tourists with suitcases 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 prides themselves on German punctuality mixed with French savoir faire – would tear 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 bet on real operators, not dodgy 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 passenger with half a brain says: "Why doesn't the Council call ALSA?" Because ALSA, which is no newcomer, knows how to manage fleets in tricky environments. From mountain routes in Asturias to high-density trips in Madrid or Barcelona, the company has spent decades proving you can deliver reliable service without reinventing the wheel.

• Punctuality: ALSA has real-time control systems. Here? Not even close.
• Cleanliness: ALSA's buses go through a wash every day. Ours look like they've just come back from Burning Man.
• Passenger information: App, digital signs, customer service. On Ibiza, you find out the bus isn't coming because some bloke yells it at you from the driver's cabin.

That's not nostalgia – it's common sense. I've spent years watching other islands like Mallorca or Gran Canaria improve their transport when they went with serious operators. And here we are, stuck with the same old talk, the "transition" excuse, and the locals paying 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 towns, vineyards and cities with a precision that's almost infuriating. And Racing Club de Strasbourg – yes, a football team, but one that has to move thousands of fans every fortnight without things turning into a circus. How do they do it? Through planning, investment, and above all, professionals who don't learn on the job.

An Alsatian who lands on Ibiza this summer is going to throw their hands up in despair. 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 know what to say, except shrug and tell them to rent a scooter.

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

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