Minibus standing room spaces limited to 10

Passenger minibuses operating in Chisinau will be allowed to carry a maximum of 10 standing passengers, under an agreement between Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca and the minibus route operators, Info-Prim Neo reports. The agreement, albeit only verbal, will have to be respected strictly, the mayor said. The decision came after numerous commuters complained they couldn't get to work on time because the drivers refused to take passengers in the standing room, fearing fines. However, Mayor Chirtoaca insisted that 10 standing passengers was still too much for the capacity of the minibuses circulating in Chisinau. “We cannot admit cases where the minibuses are so busy that passengers have to sit on the dashboard. This increases the chances of traffic accidents”, said the mayor. Oleg Boboc, the deputy head of the Chisinau Traffic Police, said that although control measures became stricter, no driver has been fined for carrying more passengers than allowed. Introduced in 1994, the minibuses have become a very popular mode of transport in Chisinau. Some 1,800 vehicles operate at present.