Dénia bus boom as passenger numbers surge 32% and more than 63,000 journeys are made in July

Dénia’s new municipal bus network has recorded a bumper first full month, carrying more than 63,000 passengers during July and comfortably beating figures recorded before the pandemic.

BusDénia registered 63,246 passenger journeys during the month, representing an impressive 32% increase compared with 2019, when the city’s previous operator recorded some of its strongest figures.

The results provide an encouraging early indication that the new network, which only launched on June 15, is establishing itself among both residents and the thousands of visitors arriving in Dénia during the summer.

Beach routes lead the way

Unsurprisingly during the height of the holiday season, coastal services accounted for a huge proportion of journeys.

The standout performer was the L3 Les Marines route, which carried 37,552 passengers during July. That means almost six in every ten journeys across the entire BusDénia network were made on this route alone.

The L2 Costa Calma service was the second busiest, recording 11,657 passengers.

The figures build on a strong start for the network. BusDénia had already carried 38,487 passengers during its first three weeks of operation, including 28,775 during the initial free travel period between June 15 and 30.

When Dénia catches the bus

The latest figures also reveal a clear difference between how tourists and residents are using public transport.

On coastal routes serving Les Rotes, Les Marines and Costa Calma, passenger numbers peak between 10am and noon, before climbing again between approximately 6.30pm and 9.30pm.

Urban services have a very different pattern. The L1 Hospital and L5 Circular routes are busiest between 7am and 8am, with another increase between 2pm and 4pm, reflecting their greater use by year-round residents.

Social travel passes for passengers aged over 65 and under 18 are also used more frequently on these urban connections.

Meanwhile, the 10-journey pass accounts for around 20% to 25% of travel across the different routes, while single tickets are particularly dominant on services popular with visitors.

Night buses prove popular

Dénia’s weekend night service to Les Marines is also attracting passengers, despite its relatively limited timetable.

The service carried 832 people, even though it operates only on Saturdays and Sundays, with four outward and four return journeys each night.

With passenger numbers already 32% above the 2019 benchmark, the first full-month figures suggest Dénia’s revamped public transport network has quickly become an important part of how people are moving around the city this summer.