"Handwork… it shows": vandalism in public transport decreases : Current information : Rīgas satiksme

Back to list Print 18. Apr. 2011

"Handwork… it shows": vandalism in public transport decreases

The number of acts of vandalism in Riga public transport decreased during the first weeks of campaign Handwork… it shows. There were 132 cases of vandalism in public transport in the first two weeks of April, compared to 217 cases reported in the first two weeks of March.

It shall be reminded that "Rīgas satiksme" has launched a campaign called "Handwork … it shows" ("Roku darbs… to pamana") in order to draw public attention to the consequences of vandalism in public transport, especially in trams. The campaign will last until the end of April. During the campaign, posters will be placed in tram carriages to show what trams would look like if not repaired after being damaged by vandals.

According to the statistical data of "Rīgas satiksme", there was a total of 2452 acts of vandalism in Riga public transport in 2010 – broken and scratched window and door glasses inside public transport vehicles, drawings inside and outside vehicles, cut, broken or stolen seats, stolen emergency hammers and other damages. 71% (or 1747) of all vandalism cases occurred in trams. In 2010, direct losses from vandalism amounted to LVL 132,000, but in the first two months of 2011 LVL 47,000 were spent on eliminating the damage caused by vandals.

Every day "Rīgas satiksme" staff establishes the damage caused by unfair passengers to public transport. The mostpopulartypes of vandalism are scratched window and door glasses inside the vehicles, as well as drawings on carriages. Most frequently vandals cause damage to trams No. 6, 11 and 4.

Although the number of acts of vandalism is much higher, in 2010 "Rīgas satiksme" asked criminal proceedings to be instituted in more than 100 cases, and it was done in most of them. If the police succeed to find the guilty persons, they are not only subject to a punishment, but also have a duty to indemnify losses caused to "Rīgas satiksme", which range from several lats to several hundreds of lats.

"Rīgas satiksme" calls on passengers to be active and to report on cases when public transport vehicles are damaged, calling police or "Rīgas satiksme" toll-free phone 80001919.

For more information about the services provided by "Rīgas satiksme", route schedules and other public transport news, please visit our website at www.rigassatiksme.lv or call our toll-free information phone 80001919.