Changes to Giro bus routes in Albufeira

Two sets of routes were combined to make circular routes, one of which is actually quite reasonable and useful as it officially provides a direct bus service for the first time ever between São Rafael, Galé, Salgados, Vale de Parra and the Algarve Shopping mall near Guia. Many other changes were minor but announcing changes less than 24 hours notice is ridiculous.

Route 7 now runs in a circle Albufeira Bus Station - Algarve Shopping - Guia - Vale de Parra - Salgados - Galé - São Rafael - Marina - Albufeira with route 8 going in the opposite direction. That will make things easier for those in Guia to get to the beach and those in Galé etc to go to Algarve Shopping.

Route 5 and 11 are similarly combined to run as circular routes between Albufeira, Ferreiras and the railway station. Number 11 will take people from the station and Ferreiras down into the old town.

Route 6 around Açoteais is being badly affected by a long term road closure for drainage works. Buses are often 15 - 20 minutes behind time according to the GPS trackers. Vamus has not seen fit to issue a temporary timetable to take account of this.

And there is still not a shred of information at any bus stop or on the buses, not even a clue as to where to look for it. Do they wonder why the buses are running almost empty?

New bus shelters are going up also in some places e.g. between Guia and Vale De Parra.

The number 1 towards Vale Navio stopped between the two Corcovada roundabouts last week, instead of the rather dangerous stop on the roundabout itself.

Although the shelter at Beato Vicente is gone, my bus still stopped there.

It is too much to expect the new and changed stops to be included in the maps and on  line timetables. And there is still absolutely no information at any bus stop.

Operatives are busy around town putting up new bus shelters. Now if only there was information in them about where the buses go and at what times they leave! Yesterday I sat waiting for three minutes at the Avenida Liberdade stop while several women interrogated the driver about which bus to get to various destinations.

The bus stop and shelter at the St Vincent statue have both disappeared, but buses do definitely still stop there.