Fuerteventura Calls for Modern Public Transport Payment Options
Fuerteventura Avanza has urged the Cabildo de Fuerteventura to enhance the island’s public transport by working with the current service provider to allow direct ticket payments via bank cards, mobile phones, and other electronic methods.
Erika Ania, a councillor for Fuerteventura Avanza in Puerto del Rosario, expressed her frustration that as of 2026, people boarding buses without a transport pass still depend on cash for payment. “Today, we leave home with our phones and cards, but less cash. It isn’t reasonable that using a vital public service like a bus becomes an issue simply because someone lacks coins,” she said.
The organisation highlighted that this situation disproportionately affects casual users, young people, and visitors unfamiliar with the existing payment methods, complicating their use of public transport.
Fuerteventura Avanza argues that modernising public transport involves more than just upgrading vehicles or increasing frequencies. “While we appreciate such improvements, modernisation should also simplify the experience for commuters. Technology must make life easier,” Ania added.
The island’s Sustainable Transport and Mobility Plan 2023-2026 acknowledges the need for service upgrades, with modernisation and digitalisation prioritised. “If the Cabildo recognises the need for digitalisation, updating payment systems should be part of that process,” Ania asserted.
Fuerteventura Avanza believes that introducing these alternatives requires coordination between the Cabildo and the service provider to explore necessary technical solutions, allowing users to choose their preferred payment methods.
“We are not asking to eliminate cash or transport passes but to add more options. We want users to be able to pay as they choose—whether by pass, cash, or card—without facing unnecessary challenges,” explained Ania.
The timing is seen as crucial due to the Cabildo’s preparations for granting a future public transport contract on the island. Fuerteventura Avanza insists that technological modernisation and payment systems aligning with current habits must be considered in the upcoming public transport model.
“Fuerteventura needs a public transport system that is modern in every aspect. We must make taking a bus increasingly easy, accessible, and comfortable. Improving payment options may seem like a small adjustment for the administration, but it can make a significant difference for users,” concluded Erika Ania.
