Checked: do all passengers of the Minsk-Smolevich minibuses issue tickets?

Why it is important not to remain indifferent

The reader turned to our editorial office - a well-known doctor, a recognized professional in his field. The words of such a man are hard to believe. In his letter, he reported on the problem that he personally faced: drivers of private shuttle taxis in the direction of Minsk – Smolevichy systematically do not issue tickets, and during peak hours even carry passengers standing. The charges are serious because such violations are life-threatening. If an accident occurs, it will be difficult for a passenger without a ticket to recover the costs of treatment from the carrier. We decided to conduct a journalistic experiment and check the information received.

With your own eyes Morning. It's 8:00. From the metro station "Vostok" to Smolevichi minibuses start every 6-10 minutes, which indicates a high demand for the direction. At first, I observe from the side: from the stop through the open doors of minibuses, it is perfectly clear that the drivers of minibuses in the right direction regularly harass passengers. Having missed several flights, I sit in the next white Citroen who slowed down at the stop, pay with a card of 5.5 rubles and immediately receive a ticket. No questions. Maybe I should have paid in cash. I'll check on the way back..

On the way, I review the reader’s letter, which gives some calculations: “The cost of a one-way trip is about 6 rubles. To intermediate points - Sloboda, Domashany - and even less. At full load, and drivers strive to stuff the minibus to the limit, the number of passengers approaches 20. Let’s estimate at least five stowaways from Minsk to Smolevichi. In one direction runs 30 rubles, in both - 60. The day of "impossible" work on the number of flights - about 300 rubles, for a month - 9000 rubles. This is the unaccounted income of only one car.”.

Further, the reader recalls a specific case, which became the reason for appealing to the editor: “To the question why I was not given a ticket, the driver threw the money back and began to kick out of the cabin, referring to the fact that he goes nonstop to Smolevichy ...” How, because of the ticket to Sloboda, he lost his next blood 3 rubles. And taking a passenger to the final destination instead of me, he doubled the warehousing.” The driver referred to the absence of stops on the way due to the high-speed route, although the side door of his minibus indicated stops: Vostok, Sloboda, Dinarovka, Smolevichi. And this is Sloboda. The driver brakes at the stop, picking up two passengers, on the next one more. Everybody pays in cash. And the tickets? No tickets. None of the passengers who sat down in Sloboda to Smolevichy were given tickets. For the purity of the experiment back from Smolevichi to Minsk food on the minibus of another carrier. As planned, I pay cash and immediately go to the vacant seat: maybe if you do not stand above the driver’s soul after payment, he will decide that I do not need a ticket? “Girl, the ticket is forgotten,” the router turns and hands me a ticket. But those who sat not in the city, but on the way, he did not rush to issue tickets. Our experiment showed that passengers who travel from Minsk to Smolevichi, as well as in the opposite direction, minibus drivers give tickets, but those who sit at intermediate points between cities, not always. We contacted the carrier, which was mentioned in the reader’s letter. When asked why tickets from Sloboda to the satellite city are not issued, the male voice in the tube was sincerely surprised and promised to understand, noting that it is most interested in its drivers to put money in the cash register, and not in his pocket

Armed with personal experience and a letter from the reader, addressed the accumulated questions to the transport inspectorate and asked them to comment on the difficult situation in the Smolevichi direction. I was told I wasn’t the first person to tell them about the problem. This year, the Inspectorate received several complaints about violations by two private employees working on this route, said in the Department: – Citizens reported that drivers of minibuses dropped people outside the established stopping points, transported passengers over the norm and violated the procedure for receiving payments. During the inspection, the facts stated in the appeals were partially confirmed. In the cabin of one car there was no business card with the driver’s data, and the driver himself behaved impolitely and insensitively towards passengers. Another driver was brought to administrative responsibility, who boarded passengers outside the established stopping point and did not issue tickets. At the same time, in both cases, the facts of transportation of passengers in excess of the norm indicated in the appeals of citizens were not recorded. In my opinion, this is an important comment. Analyzing the above violations, I would seriously think, can rude people and people with unstable mentality, who allow themselves incorrect communication with passengers, trust our lives.

By the way, as of September 1, nine carriers on eleven routes have the right to regular suburban transportation in the direction of Minsk-Smolevichi (with departure from the Vostok metro station). Statistics of violations and the current situation on the route show that last year, during inspections of this direction, the transport inspection revealed eight violations of the law. Among them, seven cases of operation of vehicles with malfunctions, in which participation in road traffic is prohibited, another violation concerned the carriage of passengers in excess of the norm.

The transport inspectorate assured that they will continue regular monitoring of the situation in this direction and verification of each appeal of dissatisfied passengers. I would like to note, and this is really important, that order in this sensitive area depends not only on the inspection, but also on ourselves! After all, the practice of non-alienating passengers is multiplying with our tacit consent.

We will follow the further resonance of this show story and analyze the situation on such a socially significant issue as passenger transportation in other regions. We also hope to hear from you, dear readers.