Last updated on 5th March 2026
Horários do Funchal / SIGA is working hard—believe it or not—to improve its services.
Payshop outlets can now load the new pre-paid Giro cards with trips, while SIGA shops can load individual trips and day passes as well. Why they offer different options is unclear. However, the new cards are proving popular, and both tourists and residents are buying them. Soon, both types of charging should be available at all outlets.
On the buses, “Flowbird” machines have now been installed at the front. These can be used with residents’ passes as well as with the new Giro cards. Soon, a new Flowbird system will also allow passengers to pay for their trips using debit or credit cards, or through an app on their mobile phones. We thought this might be something for the distant future, but the new electronic devices are already being installed on the buses. (Flowbird is an American system: https://www.flowbird.com/flowbird-systems-go-live-in-madeira/. Our transport authorities ordered it before Mr. T became president.)
At bus stops, the old yellow posts that once carried bus information panels are being fitted with new displays. Once operational, these will again show the arrival times of buses at major stops, just like in Lisbon and other cities. We had a similar system here a few years ago (partly funded by the EU), and people loved it. Unfortunately, the panels broke down frequently. Initially, we were told that a maintenance technician would come from Lisbon once a month, but this was unreliable. Later, we heard that spare parts were no longer available, which seemed unlikely for such a new system. Eventually, the panels were removed.
Now we are looking forward to having real-time information at the main bus stops again. So whenever you see an old yellow post, keep an eye out for a new panel!
Ursula Hahn
info at madeira-weekly.com
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