The reservation system on the TIB line 203, which connects Port de Sóller, Deià, Valldemossa and Palma, is achieving its goal: to ensure that residents and workers are not left without transport during peak season.
The Minister of Housing, Territory and Mobility, José Luis Mateo, has confirmed that the initial results of the pilot reservation plan on the TIB line 203 are positive. The initiative, in effect since June 26, covers the route between Port de Sóller, Deià, Valldemossa and Palma, and aims to prevent regular users from being displaced by high tourist demand.
According to Mateo, the most relevant aspect is that residents and workers with a unique transport card can secure their place during peak times. The Government will continue to evaluate the situation throughout the summer to decide whether the measure will be consolidated or adapted.
The minister has defended the experimental nature of the plan in response to criticism that labels it as discriminatory. Mateo has assured that the reservation of places for holders of the unique card is intended to facilitate the mobility of those who live or work in the area, and that the Ministry does not consider there to be discrimination.
Mateo has reminded that the pressure on TIB lines, especially towards coastal areas, is conditioned by the concessions of the previous Government, which limit the number of services and kilometres of operation. Despite this, he highlighted the “extraordinary” economic effort to strengthen public transport.
The minister has indicated that work will continue to improve frequencies within contractual margins and that larger buses, up to 18 metres, will be incorporated on the routes with the highest demand. The line 203 is key for the residents of the Serra de Tramuntana, who in summer see buses filled with tourists.
The reservation system can be accessed through the TIB app or at ticket machines in the stations. Users can reserve their place in advance, guaranteeing them a seat on the busiest journeys. The pilot plan is only applied on line 203, but the Government is considering extending it to other routes if the results are positive.
Residents of the affected municipalities have welcomed the measure as a relief, although some merchants have expressed concern about the potential impact on tourism. Mateo has insisted that the goal is to reconcile the mobility of residents and visitors, and that the system will be adjusted if necessary.
The Government has invested in the purchase of new buses and in improving frequencies, but contractual limitations hinder the capacity to respond. Mateo has stated that concessions will be reviewed in the medium term to adapt them to actual demand. In the meantime, the pilot reservation plan is the main tool to ensure service for residents.
The next assessment will be presented in September, when the peak season ends. It will then be decided whether the measure will be extended, modified, or applied to other TIB lines facing similar issues, such as those connecting Palma with Calvià or Alcúdia.
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