Some 32% of the respondents of a poll assessed the quality of public transport in the municipality of Chisinau with 2 points out of 5. 37% said there is no information about the schedule and routes of public transport, while 36% said the public units of transport do not always keep to the schedule. The public opinion poll was carried out by the group of councilors of the electoral bloc “European People’s Platform - Iurie Leanca” on the Chisinau Municipal Council in the suburbs of the capital city, IPN reports.

According to councilor Ruslan Codreanu, who was elected on the bloc’s ticket, the survey reveals that the situation is better as regards electric transport. This was analyzed depending on the style of driving the trolleybus, the neatness in the unit of transport and the amiability of the driver and ticket collector. The same criteria were used in the case of buses.

“As regards minibuses, the situation is radically opposed. Most of the respondents gave 1 point to these. So, the situation is worse,” stated the councilor. According to him, 48-50% of those polled had a negative attitude to the running of minibuses.

To solve the problems related to maxi-taxis, 20% of the respondents suggested renewing the minibuses, while 19% proposed gradually withdrawing them. “I think such answers are useful for the City Hall and the Transport Division as solutions should be identified in the medium and long term so that we do not face the same problem and the same answers in 2020,” said Ruslan Codreanu.

He also said that a short-term solution is to review the contracts signed by the City Hall with the service providers, many of which expired in 2005-2006. “The realities in 2016 are different from those 15 years ago and the contract clauses should be adjusted to the current requirements so that the standards are met and services of a high quality are provided for the people,” stated the councilor.

Deputy head of the Public Transport and Communications Division Vitalie Butucel said the Division knows very well the problems faced in the area of public transport. “As regards the Urban Bus Company, 20 of the 135 buses have been used for 5-10 years, 52 – for 10 – 15 years, while 49 – for 15 - 20 years. So, the company’s buses are very old and neither the operator nor the City Hall can provide comfortable transport on time,” he stated.

According to Vitalie Butucel, 120 buses run daily on routes. About 40 of these break down and have to be taken back to the depot for repair and this causes the people’s dissatisfaction.