Currently, travelers from Bizkaia pay 13.65 euros per journey, while users from Gipuzkoa, by using the Mugi card, access a reduced fare of 4.15 euros. This discrepancy arises because the company Avanza accepts the Mugi card but not the Barik card from Bizkaia, despite the Sustainable Mobility Law of the Basque Country having established a two-year period for the integration of all cards.
This situation is contrary to the Sustainable Mobility Law of the Basque Country approved in 2023, as this regulation set a maximum period of two years – which expired in November 2025 – after which a citizen from any of the Basque territories could use their card (Barik, Mugi, and Bat) on all public transport in Euskadi, regardless of the province.
Article 4 of this law mandates Basque public administrations to “configure an integrated, coordinated transport system without duplicities and inefficiencies, so that Basque transport functions as a single system.” Both the Basque Government and the Bizkaia Transport Consortium (CTB) announced that from December 16, 2025, the Barik card could be used on the Bilbao-San Sebastián route, a promise that has not been fulfilled.
The Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, which holds jurisdiction over this line, has cited technical difficulties and stated that they are working to resolve the issue. However, they acknowledge the impossibility of making advance purchases with Barik and suggest that part of the responsibility lies with the service concessionaire. Furthermore, the provincial institution is unwilling to allow direct payment on buses for Bizkaia users, as the pre-sale system is designed to prevent queues and stressful situations at stations.
