The users of public transport on the Pitiusas will pay 70% less from September 1st, provided the councils are committed to bear 20% of that discount, as explained yesterday afternoon by the Balearic Minister of Mobility and Housing, Josep Marí Ribas Agustinet. The Ibizan politician appeared on Ibiza hours after the President of the Govern, Francina Armengol, announced after meeting with the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, the free metro and train on Mallorca within the measures announced by the Executive with the aim of alleviating the price increase that suffocates families.
That is to say, that while Sánchez’s plan for transport will be totally free for the users of Mallorca’s train and metro, the users of Pitiusan public transport will have to continue paying for part of it.
The councilor explained that the State had agreed to pay 30% of the bus tickets “in exchange” that the consells paid another 20%, which would imply a final discount of 50%. The island institutions had until July 31st to give an answer on whether or not they would bear that cost, Agustinet said. After several meetings with the Minister and the President of the Government, however, the Govern has reached the same agreement that the Executive had reached with the Canary Islands: a 50% reduction in bus fares, provided that the extra 20% by the councils was maintained, which would mean that travelers will pay 70% less per trip. Of course, if any council decided not to assume that 20%, they would lose any bonus from the State.
“Second class citizens” in discount discussions
During his appearance, Agustinet said that the councils of Formentera and Menorca had already confirmed their participation. He was silent, however, when asked about Eivissa. It was the insular councilor of Transport, Javi Torres, who clarified a little later in the afternoon Eivissa’s situation, in which discount negotiations are not considered to be finished. Torres confirmed that the institution will assume its part, although he added a nuance: “We will contribute the 20%, but we demand free bus service to equate the benefits of bus users on Eivissa to those of people who use the train and metro in Mallorca”. In fact, the insular councilor of Transport explained that they will demand the Balearic Govern to pay the necessary discount percentage in making the bus free on the islands that do not have a train.
“In the end, on Mallorca they have a free train and a 50% discount on buses, while the rest of the islands have to put in their own resources, an extra 20%, we have to put money to finance this measure,” continued Torres indignantly, who denounced that the situation in which the bonuses for public transport have now “aggravated” the citizens of Ibiza, Formentera and Menorca. “Second-class citizens,” insisted Torres, who accused the Balearic Govern of prioritizing free public transport on Mallorca over the rest of the islands. “It is a lack of respect,” he said.
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