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International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics Friday, 29.03.2024, 12:31

10,000 signatures collected against differentiated public transportation fares in Riga

BC, Riga, 22.10.2013.Print version
10,000 signatures against differentiated public transportation fares in Riga have been collected at the Manabalss.lv portal over the past two weeks, informs LETA.

Therefore the petition can be submitted to the parliament. Ieva Brante, the petition's author, points out that the petition will be submitted to Saeima in the next few days so that the parliament could act in line with the interests of the people who have expressed their stance on the planned changes to ticket prices in Riga public transportation.

 

Brante believes that residents should not be divided according to their place of residence. Riga is the capital of Latvia and home to many important institutions – hospitals, courts and state institutions.

 

As reported, the goal of the signature drive is to prevent discrimination against a significant number of residents in Riga, as well as an increase in the number of those exiting Latvia.

 

Its organizers previously sent an open letter to Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development Edmunds Sprudzs (Reform Party), saying that higher public transport fares will have a dramatic effect on low-income residents who cannot officially move to Riga. For instance, landlords who rent out apartments in Riga most often do not permit their tenants to declare such apartments as their official residence.

 

The letter also emphasizes that a large segment of the population work in Riga as they are unable to find jobs in their regions. If public transport fares in Riga become more expensive, the above will be forced to look for jobs abroad. This especially concerns young and enterprising persons who live in regions and towns but have found, or are planning to find, a job in Riga. Therefore, higher public transport fares could result in a greater mass exodus, says the letter

 

On the other hand, if more people who currently live in regions decide to settle in Riga, this will affect the incomes of other local governments, who will therefore cut spending on schools, kindergartens, needy residents, transport and other municipal services.

 

The letter goes on to say that Riga is the capital of Latvia and many services offered by Riga are unavailable elsewhere in the country – most public institutions are located in Riga, as well as museums, theaters, the airport and hospitals, that provide services that other hospitals do not.

 

Finally, the letter says that higher public transport fares in Riga will mean more automobiles, and therefore – slower traffic and worse air quality.

 

LETA also reported, the Riga City Council decided on October 7 that, as of January 1 next year, residents who have declared Riga as their place of residence will have to pay LVL 0.42 (EUR 0.6) per one ride in Riga public transport system. The fare for all other passengers will be LVL 0.84 or EUR 1.20. The current fare is LVL 0.5.

 

Similar changes are planned in the prices of monthly passes, however, schoolchildren and students who study in Riga will have their public transport discounts increased, regardless of whether they live in Riga or not, from 60% to 80%.

 

The Riga City Council explains that differentiating public transport fares is meant to encourage the populace to declare Riga as their official place of residence, so personal income tax they pay goes to the Riga budget.






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