Ferry nice idea, but I'll stick to the bus.

The plan to bring back the ferry link between Gib and Algeciras deserves success, but as a regular commuter between the two cities, I fear it may not work. At least, not for people like me who have to get from one side of the bay to the other in a quick, reliable and, crucially, cheap manner.

In theory at least, I can't think of a better way to start or end my working day than a boat ride across the bay. A cup of coffee and a newspaper, glancing occasionally at the ships anchored in whoever's waters? Wonderful. But "six to eight euros", to quote the chap from Transcomar, the operator? Not a chance! Let me explain why.

I commute three or four days a week between Gib and Algeciras, and I take the bus. Yes, you read right. I take the bus. I could drive, I suppose, but I hate queues and, let's face it, Gib has it's fair share of those (not to mention where to park the damn thing). And I don't have a motorbike, or a desire to own one.

The Campo, luckily, is blessed with an undervalued public transport system, and it's cheap. With a frequent-user card, a trip from one side of the bay to the other costs just E1.25. That means E2.50 for a round trip. It's hard to beat.

But it's not just about cost. The bus takes half an hour and leaves every half hour, and reliably so. Once you're familiar with the timetable, it's a 10 minute walk from casemates, where my office is, to the bus station in La Linea (just by the border, for those who don't know) and a short bus ride home. You can get from door to door in under an hour if you time it right. And it runs all day, from early morning to late night.

There's more. The bus stops several times en route, including right in the heart of Algeciras, two minutes from the flat (and not on some dock in a far corner of the port).

The chaps at Transcoma have some big ideas for the ferry and say they want to exploit the commercial opportunities in the bay. I hope the ferry appeals to tourists and day-trippers from both sides of the border. I hope they make it a success and that it helps build on the notion that the communities around the bay are initimately linked. That's a good thing.

But hand on heart, when it comes to commuters, will the ferry will be able to match the flexibility of the bus? Much as I'd like it to, I'm not convinced.