Xavier Ramis, who until last June was the Balearic government's director-general for ports, is a regular user of the bus service between Alcudia, where he works, and Inca, where he lives. He speaks for passengers who are concerned by bus overcrowding and by changes to schedules and routes that will come into effect on Friday (March 22).
"Every day the buses are full. Many people have to stand, with the risk of falls that this entails. And we are not even yet in the high season."
The 315 line is one concern. Last summer this was for the Alcudia-Sa Pobla route. This year it will be for Muro-Sa Pobla. Another is the express bus from Alcudia to Palma. Ramis reckons that changes to this will lengthen the duration of the journey by almost 30%.
TIB accepts that the express bus will now stop three times rather than the once (in Inca) but disputes the claim that journey time will be lengthened to this extent.
The operator adds that there will be "notable improvements" on the 302 line - frequency of 20 minutes during peak hours and an extension to half past midnight to benefit hotel and restaurant workers.
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A recent trip to Palma by bus meant having to stand all the way and it was on a regular urban bus not a coach style bus. Not a great journey. The free transport scheme will obviously mean more passengers, so more buses and better scheduling is essential. Looks like some haphazard planning has been going on instead.
Overcrowding is equally a major problem on Buses operating to Palma from Cala Millor etc. during the main Season. It is frightening that the drivers keep picking up more and more passengers forcing them to stand and cram together. All the Services covering Porto Cristo, S'Illot, Cala Millor, Cala Bona and on to Cala Ratjada are overloaded in the Summer. Incidentally the Driving of these overloaded Buses is disgraceful. BUT I have observed the young Lady Drivers are a Credit to the Company and drive exceptionally well.