Ursula and Martina (with the new initiative “Cidadania Ativa”) met with two Horarios do Funchal admin members, to talk about problems and new ideas, on July 4
Tourists
We have many more tourists, we have too many beds now. Tourists are not getting or looking for information on how to use the Public Bus systems. They do not have Welcome Cocktails with basic information anymore; they only rely on the navigation apps. They are holding up the fluidity of the service by slow boarding/payment. They also board the public buses in groups, paying even individually, (instead of getting their own shuttle) and this way, many residents cannot board the buses on the following stops to get to work. The bus drivers are fed up with these passengers, too.
Hotels are not keen to give out information and sell bus tickets because the receptionists can get a higher commission if they call a taxi. This way the tourist are not “educated” on the public bus system in the hotels, either.
Kiosks
should be at the Lido, at EEM and at the stop S. Lourenco, to offer ticket sales and information to tourists. The kiosk at the Almirante Reis is owned by the City Hall. They did, so far, not allow renovations (painting in yellow, renovation etc) so that tourists would become aware of it.
A kiosk at the Lido roundabout would have to be authorized by the City. It may face opposition from the Taxi companies and other entities which want to get the tourist business for themselves.
The situation with excursion company buses at 9am at the Lido roundabout is not much better. they all try to pick up the tourists at the same time. The punctuality indicator in Horarios (http://www.horariosdofunchal.pt/) is supposed to be at 99.8%
New ticketing system project
being re-stared up. (This initiative was stared in 2017, and stopped by Covid.) It is not yet known, when this will start. All five public bus companies on Madeira (Horarios, SAM; Rodoeste, Canico, S. Goncalo) will have a common ticket which can be used by all passengers on all island bus lines. The new ticketing company will be in charge of the sales offices/kiosks/pay-shops and sort out the payments for the respective supplier companies. It will be possible to pay with cash, debit cards, credit cards, smartphone and via the HF app. Tourists will also be able to pay this way (U and T: Hallelujah)
Coming next week: the existing bus stop panels, the new App, additional bus routes and thoughts about blocked streets due to sports events.
