Transport on Ibiza: Packed like sardines in a can on bus line 9

Packed like sardines in a can on bus line 9 |

To prepare the report, this newspaper met at 11am with an 80 year old resident, Carla (fictitious name because she does not want to give hers) of Port des Torrent at the Sant Antoni Bus Station. She wants to take this transport route to denounce its poor functioning; she takes it every week to be able to go to the pharmacy. She has been indignant with this service for a long time: “At rush hour people fill the bus with suitcases and in many occasions there is no free space left”, she comments. “With a month’s difference, from June 29th to the same day in July, I have seen that families have been left stranded with their children at the stops. Many need transport to the airport and may miss their flight because another bus does not pass until an hour later,” she adds indignantly. In addition, this resident considers that it gives “a bad image of the public transport service of the island” and that it is “a bad service for those of us from the neighborhood”.

Packed like sardines in a can on bus line 9 | PHOTOS BY M.P.R.

We get on before the bus leaves and there are only three seats available. He tells me to take the one closest to the driver’s door because, as she assures me, “that way you will see the problem better and if it leaves people stranded”. Only ten minutes after the trip started, at one of the stops he picks up customers who now have to stand because there is no room. In addition, and because they were not fastened, several suitcases are already moving towards one of the doors of the vehicle. This is due to the lack of shelves suitable to store them for this type of transport, which causes many people to have to get up to pick them up as they move back and forth through the bus. This can cause falls with serious consequences, especially on the stairs that divide the two areas of the vehicle. “It has no trunk and the suitcases in some cases go on the seats,” comments Carla, who also complains that sometimes the buses do not pick up passengers from the stops. “This transport service as well as others that pass through this area are obliged to stop. It was confirmed to me by the company and every time they refuse to do so, I communicate it, as I was told to do” from Alsa, she adds.

Packed like sardines in a can on bus line 9 | PHOTOS BY JA RIERA

Overcrowded transport

Little by little the bus moves forward and picks up people carrying more suitcases. It is getting more and more crowded and people are squeezing, both those who are standing and those who are seated and have people around them.

Carla takes advantage of the empty seat next to me to sit down. All to continue detailing to me the problems that the line has in her opinion. At one point when the bus stops, a woman takes the opportunity to get off. They have to help her get her shopping cart down because it has been caught in the crowd and the suitcases. “It’s like this all the time. This woman is a neighbor and they take away line 2 in summer when we really need it”, says the Port des Torrent resident to explain why not even a pin fits.

After continuing the trip, the bus arrives at the stop where Carla gets off and accompanies us to the one in front. “So I don’t leave you stranded”, she comments while winking in reference to her complaint about the people who have not been able to take the bus due to lack of space.

Packed like sardines in a can on bus line 9

“We have to find a transport solution, otherwise this is going to end badly”, she explains while we arrive at the bus stop in front of us. “Instead of one bus they should put two on this route. Another solution would be to schedule this line every 30 minutes instead of every hour,” she comments.

For the full article, please visit Diario de Ibiza website here.