With the introduction of new city population cards, Jelgava pensioners have been left without discounts on buses for more than ten days.
So far, the municipality has had an agreement with SEB bank for providing cards, but these cards stopped working on July 21. In early July, reporting on the changes in the municipal newsletter Jelgava Gazette it is mentioned that “from July 21, pensioners declared in Jelgava with a Jelgava resident’s card will be able to use up to ten free trips in the city’s public transport throughout the year”. However, the municipality now reports that discounts on buses with the new cards will be available only from August 1, which means that pensioners will not be able to receive discounts on buses for more than ten days.
“The regulations for granting benefits to Jelgava City Municipality stipulate that fare reductions in the city’s public transport are granted to various groups of the population for a month. Thus, the new cards for receiving the municipal benefit will start working with the new calendar month – August 1 -, »commented the representative of the municipality Līga Klismeta.
The municipality explained that from July 21, pensioners have started receiving new cards. At the same time, the municipality called for additional trips to be added to the new card by August, until the cards start working. Jelgava bus fleet a subscription ticket, which can be done at post offices and at the bus station.
The agency LETA made sure that it was not possible to do this “for technical reasons” at the post office, bus station until the evening of Wednesday, July 22, and the situation was promised to be improved by Friday at the earliest or even by Monday of the following week.
Clismetta, although initially claiming that it is possible to top up the card, also admitted that additional trips to the resident’s card “cannot be attached due to temporary technical problems”. According to her, the problems could be eliminated by Thursday.
Currently, pensioners, like other groups of the population, can buy a ticket on buses in cash for 1.5 euros, with a bank card for 0.85 euros or travel with a season ticket.
The information gathered by the municipality shows that 4,000 pensioners declared in the city had applied for the previous Jelgava resident card, but 2,135 persons actively used them. Currently, 2,900 pensioners have applied for the new Jelgava resident card.
From August, as determined by the amendments to the binding regulations on the procedure for granting benefits adopted by the Jelgava City Council, pensioners declared in Jelgava with a resident card will be able to use ten free trips on the city’s public transport throughout the year. In turn, politically repressed persons declared in Jelgava will continue to be provided with 20 free trips per month on public transport in the city throughout the year, presenting a Jelgava resident’s card.
From August, support for orphaned children and children left without parental care declared in Jelgava will also remain unchanged – five free trips per day on the city’s public transport throughout the year. This support is available to an orphaned child and a child left without parental care, as well as an orphaned child up to the age of 24 who is studying at one of the levels of education specified in the Education Law and / or in a vocational education institution.
Also, the new Jelgava student cards are currently being gradually developed, which will allow students with the new school year to receive fare reductions in the city’s public transport and school meals. By the end of August, the municipality grants those students who are involved in the employment program or attend interest education classes by writing an application to the Education Board. Jelgava Bus Park a season ticket which allows, in accordance with the binding rules, the use of fare reductions also during leisure time.
It has already been reported that according to the information provided by the municipality, on July 20 the cooperation agreement with Jelgava municipality expired. SEB bank on ensuring the operation of Jelgava resident cards and Jelgava student cards. The bank has informed the municipality that “the provision of this local project requires large financial investments, which, however, do not outweigh the return on the project in the future, therefore SEB bank has decided not to pursue cooperation “.
Therefore, at the Jelgava City Council meeting, the deputies considered the regulations, which provided for the procedure by which the new personalized smart cards will be issued, issued and what the terms of their use will be.
Unlike the previous cards, the new smart cards will not be tied to any bank – it will not be a means of payment, but a personalized card that will allow a particular resident to receive the benefits for city public transport or school meals to the extent granted by the municipality. If a person wants to use the service to a greater extent than the specified relief, everyone will have the opportunity to choose the most convenient form of payment – in cash, with a bank card or, for example, using city buses to purchase subscription tickets that can be attached to the new smart card.
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