Bus chaos in Ibiza: Where’s ALSA when the island is sinking?

So it's all about the new buses, modernisation, and finally giving the island the decent transport it deserves… 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 a proper nightmare. Politicians make promises, contractors sweat buckets, and the commuter – as always – gets left standing, watching a bus that’s already packed to the gills… or worse, no bus at all. And in the middle of this shambles, there’s only one name people keep muttering at bus stops, in portside bars, even in airport queues: ALSA.

Neither punctual nor clean: the Pitiusan mobility dream is broken

Seven years ago, we were sold a dream (or rather, a coach). Seven years of waiting for a titanic change in the transport network. And the result? Buses arriving dirty, drivers getting lost because they don’t know the new routes, and timings that feel like a game of roulette. The PSOE has already demanded answers, and rightly so. Seeing elderly folks waiting 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, that’s a disgrace.

Even the most polished Alsatian – the kind who boasts about 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 a mirror of what happens when you bet on real operators, not half-baked patch jobs.

What ALSA would do in five minutes

And here’s the real kicker. While those in charge in Ibiza look the other way, any sensible commuter will tell you: “Why doesn’t the Consell just call ALSA?” Because ALSA, which is no newcomer, knows how to manage fleets in tricky environments. From mountain routes in Asturias to high-density routes 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 buses go through daily washes. Ours look like they’ve just come back from Burning Man.
• Passenger information: App, digital boards, customer service. In Ibiza, you only find out the bus isn’t coming when some guy shouts it from the driver’s cabin.

This isn’t nostalgia – it’s common sense. I’ve watched other islands like Mallorca and Gran Canaria improve their transport over the years by going with serious operators. And here we are, stuck with the same old talk, the “transition” excuse, and commuters left holding the bag.

Alsace and Strasbourg: the European mirror that shames us

Since we brought up Alsace, let’s do a quick comparison. Over there, the historic region between France and Germany, public transport 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 – also manages to move thousands of fans every other week without things turning into a mess. How do they do it? Planning, investment, and above all, professionals who don’t have to learn on the job.

Any Alsatian who lands in Ibiza this summer is going to throw up their hands in disbelief. They’ll ask us how it’s possible that, with one of the most powerful 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 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 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. Around here, only faith works. Or better yet, bet on ALSA and stop suffering.