Last Sunday, December 28, Encarnación Martínez, a resident of Cala Llonga, experienced a joke that was anything but amusing. The number 15 bus, which was due to depart from the Cetis station in Ibiza at 11 a.m. bound for Cala Llonga, failed to run without any prior notice. As a result, the local resident was forced to wait for the next service, scheduled for 3 p.m., while carrying her shopping bags.
This was not the first time such an incident had occurred, Encarnación complains. In recent months, failures to comply with timetables and scheduled stops have become increasingly frequent. For this reason, the 63-year-old woman has filed several complaints with the Consell Insular. So far, she says, she has received no response. “The last time they said it was because the bus had broken down and that they had announced it on the website. But I don’t know where they expect people to look — they should at least inform passengers at the bus stop itself”, she says.
“I pay more for a loaf of bread than anyone else”
Encarnación, who does not own a car, depends entirely on public transport to get around. “Even to do my shopping, I need to get at least as far as Jesús, and the services are infrequent and often do not run on time”, she complains. As a result, she says, she has been forced on several occasions to take a taxi, with the additional cost that entails. “A loaf of bread costs me more than it does anyone else”, she jokes.
Encarnación recalls that on one occasion, several neighbours waiting at the bus stop decided to share a taxi to Ibiza and split the fare because the bus was late.
“When you call to complain, all they tell you is that the bus has broken down — and what a coincidence that the 11 o’clock bus always seems to break down on public holidays and in Santa Eulària”, she adds.
For the full article, please visit Diario de Ibiza website here.