The Consell de Ibiza will allocate 760,000 euros to allow free bus journeys on the island from September 1st until the end of the year, although it will extend the funding in case the initial allocation is exhausted by the demand of users. Those interested can now apply for the T-General free bus travel card through the Consell’s website or by making an appointment at the headquarters of the Consell.
The Councilor for Transport, Javi Torres, recalled this morning at a press conference that this economic injection is intended to compensate the Ibizans and facilitate public transport during the current crisis caused by the war in Ukraine, as in the Peninsula, where commuter trains and medium distance trains will be free, or on Mallorca, where you can access both the rail and metro at no cost. On the other hand, after the criticism from the islands that do not have a train, the central government only committed itself initially to subsidize 30% of the cost of bus tickets, although later it announced an increase up to 50% if the island councils contributed another 20%. In this way, the user would end up paying 30% of the current price of bus travel.
Finally, the Consell de Ibiza announced on August 8th that it would finance half the cost of bus travel, the same percentage as the central government, “to reduce the comparative disadvantage with Mallorca,” Torres recalled.
How the free bus will work
Currently, public transport on Ibiza is already free for pensioners and retirees, who have the Gold Card, and for young people, through the T-Jove. For their part, large families and single-parent families with two or more children (or one with a disability from 33%) can benefit from the Silver Card, which allows them a 50% discount, which will become completely free from September 1st.
The remainder of regular users of a line has T-General, which so far represents a 20% discount. The Consell de Ibiza expects that the demand for this card will now skyrocket for free bus travel, as the single ticket will continue to be charged because the central government only subsidizes multi-journey tickets.
Ibiza has 21,052 users of the T-General free bus pass and the Consell foresees an increase of 30%
At present, there are 21,052 users of the T-General and the Consell estimates that the demand will increase by 30% as a result of the free buses, a figure that it expects to be covered with the 760,000 euros it will contribute, together with the similar amount that will be paid by the central government. In case there are many more people interested, Torres has announced that the economic injection of the institution will be extended to sign a new agreement with the concessionary companies.
The conseller has especially stressed that those interested can now apply for the free bus transport card through the electronic headquarters, instead of making an appointment in person at the Consell, to avoid saturation of the service. To do this, simply fill out a digital form and attach a photograph.
Users can pick up the cards at the Consell, the City Council of Santa Eulària, the Cultural Center of Jesus or Punt Jover of Sant Antoni
The user can select if they want to pick up the transport voucher at the Consell or at any other participating point (City Council of Santa Eulària, Cultural Center of Jesus and Punt Jove of Sant Antoni). The officials of the Consell will notify users by phone to let them know that they can pick up their card, which is expected in the first few days to be a maximum of 15 days due to the increase in demand, as reported Torres (“although perhaps they will receive a call after four days”).
To request the T-General it is not necessary to prove residence status on the island and people of any nationality can benifit, as detailed Torres.
For the full article, please visit Diario de Ibiza website here.