The public transport crisis in Igualada
With the start of the new academic year, complaints about the bus service between Igualada and Barcelona have once again taken center stage in local politics. The situation has provoked a forceful response from Poble Actiu, which has launched the ‘Monbus leaves us T-irats’ campaign to demand immediate improvements.
Demands of Active People
The municipal collective has focused on the need for efficient and quality public transport. According to its members, users of this service have to deal with multiple inconveniences, such as lack of punctuality and insufficient available seats, leaving many passengers waiting at stops. In addition, they highlighted that the condition of the vehicles is worrying, with damaged vehicles and little maintenance.
Lack of transparency
Poble Actiu has also pointed out the lack of will on the part of the authorities to address these problems, as well as the lack of transparency of the Generalitat, which has not yet published the service contract.
Unfulfilled motions and commitments
The municipal group recalled that, last year, a motion was approved in favor of the supervision of the bus line and a technical and economic audit. However, councilor Pau Ortínez has regretted that the government of Castells has not taken effective actions to implement it, describing it as a symbolic gesture.
Esquerra Igualada also joins the complaints
On the other hand, Esquerra Republicana d’Igualada has expressed its frustration with the situation, recalling that they have presented up to seven motions at the municipal meeting without a solution being found. They believe that the current government, which has been in office for more than a decade, has failed to address the problems of the service.
The response of the municipal government
The Councilor for Mobility, Miquel Vives, has defended that the City Council has achieved improvements in the contract with Monbus, such as considering all of September as a school month. However, he admitted that this start of the school year has been marked by several incidents, and reiterated the City Council’s commitment to constant follow-up to resolve the problems.
The future of transport in Igualada
With the elections on the horizon and citizen dissatisfaction growing, the debate on public transport between Igualada and Barcelona will become a central issue in local politics. Public pressure could be key to achieving a more reliable service that meets users’ needs.
