LATVIA – Riga City Council Chairman Vilnis Ķirsis is proposing changes to the municipal binding regulations* and allowing free travel on public transport in the capital for national guards, border guards, firefighters and emergency medical service medics.
The city mayor believes that this would show respect for representatives of these professions, and it would also create a greater sense of security among residents when traveling on public transport together with uniformed representatives of various services.
“I have proposed to the council coalition to allow free travel on public transport not only for state and local police officers, but also for representatives of various other services important for the security of the state and residents – national guards, border guards, firefighters and emergency medical service medics. A person in uniform is basically at work, so public transport also benefits in this way, because the presence of such representatives of services also leaves an impression on those who may not have such good intentions. Thus, we will be able to both improve security in the city and show respect to the representatives of these very responsible professions,” emphasizes the Mayor of Riga.
On Tuesday, December 17, the coalition partners of the Riga City Council supported this proposal and will now prepare and submit for consideration at the council meeting changes to the binding regulations to grant 100% travel benefits to representatives of the aforementioned services.
Currently, Riga public transport is free for pensioners, students, persons with disabilities, politically repressed persons and members of the national resistance movement, participants in the liquidation of the consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident, Ukrainian civilians, state and municipal police officers, but with a discount for students, teachers, technical employees of educational institutions, social work specialists of institutions subordinate to the Welfare Department, caregivers, healthcare personnel, educators, nannies, persons involved in the treatment process who work in municipal healthcare capital companies, etc.
*Riga City Council Binding Regulations No. RD-23-208-sn “On Fare Fare Reductions in the Riga City Public Transport Route Network.”
