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Bus service. ?

PostPosted: Sat Jun 23, 2018 9:39 pm
by Nikon
Local bus service. why has no one looked at setting up a local Hail and ride service for the local people in quesdada. and help our silver surfers. is this not possible all they need is a small minibus and running it from 10 am to 4pm. this would be a great idea would it not or is there to much red tape and it would help our pensioners and the local people and help them get there shopping home just a idea probably the taxi drivers wouldn't be happy but it wouldn't run after 4pm just a thought please don't shout at me just a idea. :text-thankyouyellow:

Re: Bus service. ?

PostPosted: Sun Jun 24, 2018 12:11 am
by manxmunk
I would imagine that one of the reasons for it not happening would be the cost, insurance alone would be expensive, then there will be the tests for public safety and obviously fuel costs. Although this is a good idea, how many people would be willing to risk a small fortune to set it up, not knowing if it would be used sufficiently.

Re: Bus service. ?

PostPosted: Sun Jun 24, 2018 12:00 pm
by Nikon
We should run a poll for this and see what the results would be would be interesting to see the results

Re: Bus service. ?

PostPosted: Sun Jun 24, 2018 12:44 pm
by Jan
Nikon wrote:We should run a poll for this and see what the results would be would be interesting to see the results

I can see you are a new member so welcome to the forum.
:text-welcomewave:
I'm sure you mean well but we really don't need a poll to decide this. There have been numerous posts on the lack of a decent bus service around Quesada. If you navigate around the forum you will see lots of info on this.
The public bus service was set up (in theory)in the early days of the building boom in Dona Pepa and bus stops were put in from the Laguna hotel all the way through to upper Quesada ready for the buses to operate. The reason they never operated has always been unclear with lots of speculation ranging from Taxi's blocking the service (personally I could not see that as a reason because Taxis in those days were a rare commodity). These days there are plenty of taxis but not then.
Other reasons came about that the council would not fund the bus service due to the idea that most people would drive and not use them...also bus companies need a profit and that was another reason that came out on discussion on here.

Personally I cannot see licenses being allowed for any private individuals to do a mini van bus service, as good as that would be. It takes years and is very expensive for Taxi drivers to become registered in Spain, so can't see it being any easier for a mini van to get legalised to do this, if ever it was allowed.

Taxi licenses in Spain are like gold dust and apparently can only be passed down the family with the correct driver training and payment for the expensive license.
After speaking to a local driver I was shocked at the price of a license and what has to be done to get one.

I have emailed a few bus companies in the past and asked why they can't re-route some of their buses to pick up/drop off in Quesada (including the airport bus) but the basic answer is that unfortunately their routes are set in stone!

Re: Bus service. ?

PostPosted: Sun Jun 24, 2018 12:56 pm
by marcliff
:text-goodpost:

We've only used the bus once to Guardamar when my car was getting some work done.
Going to Guardamar there were 3 other people on the bus for the whole route and just me and the good lady when we returned.
I've often seen the bus go past and it is, nearly always, empty.
We once waited for the morning bus to Torrevieja at the arches and gave up after 40 minutes when it didn't show.
The only bus that seems to have people on board is the free one to Rojales market.
Not many bus companies can afford to run that service without subsidies.

Re: Bus service. ?

PostPosted: Sun Jun 24, 2018 6:47 pm
by Nikon
Hi yes your probably correct. just a thought and yes new here but great site and very helpful I must say keep up the good work. :text-goodpost:
:text-thankyouyellow:








Jan wrote:
Nikon wrote:We should run a poll for this and see what the results would be would be interesting to see the results

I can see you are a new member so welcome to the forum.
:text-welcomewave:
I'm sure you mean well but we really don't need a poll to decide this. There have been numerous posts on the lack of a decent bus service around Quesada. If you navigate around the forum you will see lots of info on this.
The public bus service was set up (in theory)in the early days of the building boom in Dona Pepa and bus stops were put in from the Laguna hotel all the way through to upper Quesada ready for the buses to operate. The reason they never operated has always been unclear with lots of speculation ranging from Taxi's blocking the service (personally I could not see that as a reason because Taxis in those days were a rare commodity). These days there are plenty of taxis but not then.
Other reasons came about that the council would not fund the bus service due to the idea that most people would drive and not use them...also bus companies need a profit and that was another reason that came out on discussion on here.

Personally I cannot see licenses being allowed for any private individuals to do a mini van bus service, as good as that would be. It takes years and is very expensive for Taxi drivers to become registered in Spain, so can't see it being any easier for a mini van to get legalised to do this, if ever it was allowed.

Taxi licenses in Spain are like gold dust and apparently can only be passed down the family with the correct driver training and payment for the expensive license.
After speaking to a local driver I was shocked at the price of a license and what has to be done to get one.

I have emailed a few bus companies in the past and asked why they can't re-route some of their buses to pick up/drop off in Quesada (including the airport bus) but the basic answer is that unfortunately their routes are set in stone!

Re: Bus service. ?

PostPosted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 7:55 am
by Martin the artist
There used to be an hourly(?) circular bus service operating round Rojales and Quesada which is why the bus stops are still around.
Due to lack of use they reduced the service to just one a day - which of course was no use to anyone because you couldn't get back! - and it started at bottom end of golf course at 9.30am near my house.
Frequently saw it but never saw anyone on it, so it was finally stopped around 2007.
Often felt it would be good to reinstate it though now Quesada has expanded so much.

Re: Bus service. ?

PostPosted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 9:52 am
by mondo
A "road train" would be good. They have them in Gran Alacant, Torrevieja, Santa Pola etc so they can run..

A road train would "tie" all the urbs together, be fun for tourists, allow people to go out and have a drink, shop, see friends etc..

The others work...it would be good to have one in Quesada...and I know there are hills in Quesada... and there are hills in Gran Alacant too... any entrepreneurs out there??


..

Re: Bus service. ?

PostPosted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 11:35 am
by Dave c
Yes I have always wondered about this. I think it would work just going round a circuit connecting all the urbs stopping near shops and bars.

Re: Bus service. ?

PostPosted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 11:42 am
by Martin the artist
And it should include places folk need to get too - e.g. health centre, libraries, town halls, supermarkets, etc.