Public transport will be free in the Balearics next year

James WalkerSo, you've never lived in rural Mallorca? Every village has pretty decent bus service. They're modern, comfortable and efficient. No, they don't run every 15 minutes, but usually every 1-2 hours in the daytime, less frequently at night. The trains are also very good, although as you point out, limited to Palma metro area, and stations between Palma, Inca, Manacor, and Sa Pobla. Although apparently the funding to continue the extension of the line from Manacor to Arta and Cala Ratjada, and the extension from Sa Pobla to Alcudia is in the final approval process. Along with the Airport-Palma route. I'd love to see a Palma-Campos-Santanyi route as well (there's tsk of this too). Otherwise, the public transport system here is widely considered to be "very good". And an excellent value, too. I'll certainly use it more often if it's "free".

Stephen PerrimanDon't let the facts get in the way of your rant! It is the Spanish central government that is funding it and the money probably comes from the EU, so Mallorca tax payers won't be paying for it. As for Mallorca public transport being a joke - seriously? I've been in the UK recently and have to say the trains there are the worst I have seen anywhere in Europe. That's if they are running of course. And when they are, only about 1 in 3 runs on time. As for the prices . . And don't let one incident on the train in Mallorca scare you. I've made thousands of journeys without any problems at all.

It’s no going to be FREE!!, it’s going to be free of charge but taxpayers throughout the island will pick up the tab whether they use the services or not! Public transport in Majorca is a joke either on strike or just not running and dangerous too judging by the reports of late night violence on the trains from Palma to Inca etc, even with security guards. We will be sticking to our hire cars despite qualifying for a pass, and can return home to the UK safe.

Stan The ManIt's not the scheme that lacks detail just the article in the MDB.

It's not for tourists. It's for residents with a DNI or an NIE no. You can get the card from Palma train station and Inca and Manacor I believe.

Is this for Palma area only ? How will Tourists obtain the Card? When here for a week or less.. There needs to be much more detail on this scheme.

This is good news, especially if it applies to tourists too, which would help a little to reduce the need for hire cars.

How do you get a Balearic travel card ?

I think it's a great idea. But unfortunately the transport infrastructure is in adequate for these changes to make a real helpful impact. The buses to smaller village are almost non existent and don't run at the times needed. Especially at the weekends the service barely links with the train service twice a day. As for the trains the service stops at Manacor and Sa Pobla what are not tourism towns really. It needs linking to Pollensa, Alcudia, Cala Millor. Even out to Andratx. More buses, more train lines to make this work properly. It would also create loads of jobs. I think it's a nice idea to have an electric tram running from the airport into Palma but the money could be spent better elsewhere first. There's no harm in trying it for a year and seeing if it makes a difference. But Mallorca needs all the above for this to work.

This is positive news but of course comes with large qualifiers. The transport system doesn’t adequately serve many smaller towns and villages and some larger ones too. Both in accessibility and frequency. For many, the car will still be the only option. Getting to and from Palma is fine but travelling across the island is still quite a complicated affair. But these are problems to be sorted. Getting any amount of the traffic off the roads is a good thing.