On the first day of the course, about 10,000 schoolchildren from public schools in Álava and Bizkaia have not received the school transportation service. The Education Advisor, Jokin Bildarratz, in the absence of a guarantee from the transport service for the beginning of the course, said he was going to order companies to make all the trips.
At the beginning of the year the Basque Government made a competition for school transport routes, but most tours were not presented: Of the 467 tours, 387 remained vacant. Thus, in total 31% of the trips have been tendered, although there are significant differences between territories. Gipuzkoa is guaranteed 98%, Álava 5% and Bizkaia none.
In this regard, the Government wanted companies to be forced to carry out the routes of the previous year, but they have planted and have not provided services. The manager of the bus company Soleto has confirmed in Euskadi Irratia that Thursday will be used. He says that they want to serve "whenever the rights of companies and workers are upheld". He adds that the business has to be done "both sides".
The Government considers that the lack of service provision will have consequences for businesses. However, companies say that although the government order says the service is basic, it is "complementary", so it does not have the power to force it.
Bildarratz warned that companies suspect that they have infringed the law, as companies have reached agreements to exaggerate prices and not run for competitions. The Department of Education has therefore sent the information it has to the Basque Competition Authority and will report it to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Last year school transport also staggered at the beginning of the year, but after an increase of 24.1% from the Department of Education companies decided to offer the service.
I know some people hate collective transportation, they prefer to move around by driving their car, but I'm glad when I have to take a bus or train.
Going on the bus of the Comarca of Pamplona, in the villavesa, I always liked it. During the time that it takes a trip, between 10... [+]