The Andalusian government’s Council of Government reviewed the results of the Summer Transport to the Coast Programme, which connects rural inland areas with Andalusian beaches by bus during July and August. More than 8,000 passengers used its 28 routes, which serve around 100 municipalities in Cádiz, Granada, Huelva and Málaga that lack public transport access to the coast or river beaches.
Passenger totals by province were 2,668 in Cádiz, 1,150 in Granada, 3,190 in Huelva and 1,244 in Málaga. The programme, now in its seventh year, is intended to reduce private-car use during the summer and provide an option for people without another way to reach the coast. Passengers pay a fare equivalent to that of a conventional bus; the Regional Ministry of Public Works and Housing covers the difference between the fare and the actual cost. The programme had a budget of €163,096 for this edition.
The service is a temporary, general-use interurban passenger service for journeys of less than one hour that are not covered by a regular public transport concession. Its stated aims include helping to address rural depopulation by adding transport for inland communities that need it, improving residents’ quality of life by making coastal areas easier and more affordable to reach, and promoting public transport while reducing dependence on private cars. Similar initiatives are also run by metropolitan transport consortia.
Málaga had 14 routes, serving inland communities and destinations including beaches in Algarrobo, Torremolinos, Vélez-Málaga, Marbella, Rincón de la Victoria, Sabinillas and Málaga. Huelva had five routes, with destinations including La Antilla, Mazagón, Punta Umbría, Isla Canela and Matalascañas. Granada had five routes connecting inland towns with beaches in Motril, Freila, Almuñécar and Salobreña. Cádiz had four routes serving La Victoria beach and Costa Ballena in Chipiona.