In Kropyvnytskyi, more and more drivers of КП 'Електротранс' refuse to sell tickets for cash

In some buses and trolleybuses, passengers can pay for their journey only by bank card or phone. This applies to transport operating on routes without a conductor. This is reported by Dostup. Media.

Passengers are not warned in advance which specific bus or trolleybus will only accept cashless payments. The situation changes daily, as drivers are not fixed to specific routes and vehicles.

What to do for passengers without a bank card

If the driver does not accept cash, the passenger is offered to ask another person to pay for the trip with a card and return the money. Another option is to wait for transport with a conductor.

Kropyvnytsky resident Inna Fainman reported witnessing such a situation on trolleybus number 10. People who only had cash could not purchase tickets. The next day, a driver of another vehicle also refused to accept money, causing some passengers to exit the cabin.

During the inspection, journalists found out that payment methods differ even throughout the same day:

• in three trolleybuses number 10 and bus number 111, conductors accepted cash;
• validators also operated in the salons of trolleybuses;
• in bus number 103, only cashless payment was accepted;
• there is no stable list of routes with such restrictions.

Why drivers refuse to sell tickets for cash in Kropyvnytskyi

The city council explained the situation with a severe staff shortage. КП 'Електротранс' lacks 46 drivers and 76 conductors. Because of this, part of the transport is operating on lines without personnel who could sell tickets.

According to the head of the city council's press service, Serhii Yakunin, drivers are working approximately 120 hours per month. Some of them consciously do not accept cash to avoid being distracted from driving the vehicle.

'Drivers are tired, but at the same time responsible, which is why they refuse to take cash, to avoid being distracted from the primary task - driving,' explained the official.

The company noted that on one day four buses can operate without a conductor, and the next day the situation changes. Therefore, it is currently impossible to publish an exact list of routes where cashless payments will only be accepted in advance.

It is worth noting that the Executive Committee of the Kropyvnytskyi City Council approved new tariffs for public transport in municipal buses and trolleybuses.