The Felanitx Town Hall has launched a free urban bus in Portocolom to combat tourist saturation. The pilot test, which will last until October, has already accumulated over 184 passengers on its second day.
Portocolom breathes. The coastal hub of Felanitx, which every summer sees its streets turn into a funnel, has debuted a free urban bus service. The initiative, dubbed a pilot test, connects Cala Marçal and s'Arenal and will operate until October 1. The mayor, Cati Soler, has already made an initial assessment: the locals are delighted.
The project did not come about overnight. As Soler explained in an interview, the council has been working on designing this route for two years. There were hurdles to overcome, including the approval of transport plans and a bidding process. The goal: to offer alternatives before summer traffic became unsustainable.
A free service that is already gaining users
Free service is one of the strong pillars of the project. The cost amounts to 80,000 euros, which the Town Hall finances with its own resources. But Soler is confident of recovering part of the investment: "Thanks to the Balearic Government, we are going to try to include this grant call that they have launched for municipalities," she detailed.
Occupancy data supports the initiative. "On the second day, there were already more than 184 passengers," revealed the mayor. The user profile is varied: from those who use it for work or balancing family life to residents of remote areas who use it for leisure. "The locals are very happy," Soler assured.
The locals are very happy, on the second day there were already more than 184 passengers
The bus allows the population to "leave cars, motorcycles, and bicycles" at home, thanks to a broad timetable: from 9 in the morning to 11 at night, with a circular route of about 40 minutes.
A minibbus tailored for the streets of Portocolom
The chosen vehicle is not just any bus. It is a small, low-emission minibus, the ideal size for the urban layout of Portocolom. "We couldn't add more seats nor could we remove any. We can't fit a larger bus," Soler stated.
The service is coordinated with the interurban lines of the TIB (lines 512 and 428). The route includes shared stops with the TIB and three newly created ones, such as the beach of s'Arenal or Sa Capella. For the residents of Portocolom, this means a real connection to the town centre and other coastal areas without needing to take the car.
The pilot test will remain active throughout the summer. The Town Hall will analyse its impact on traffic flow, and if the results are favourable, the intention is to consolidate the project for the future. For now, the free bus has already encouraged many residents to leave their vehicles at home. And that, in the middle of July, is a relief.
You may also like
