April: lowest number of vandalism acts in Riga public transport since beginning 2011 : Current information : Rīgas satiksme

Back to list Print 5. May. 2011

April: lowest number of vandalism acts in Riga public transport since beginning 2011

In April, when campaign "Handwork…it shows" was underway in Riga public transport, "Rīgas satiksme" reported 229 acts of vandalism, which is the lowest level since the beginning of 2011. Just to compare: there were 257 acts of vandalism in January, 327 in February and 308 in March.

"Although the number of vandalism acts in public transport is still high, we are satisfied to see it decreasing compared to the first months of the year, and we hope that it will keep on decreasing in months to come,""Rīgas satiksme" Operations Director Jānis Dziedātājs said.

It shall be reminded that "Rīgas satiksme" launched on April 6 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 be continued through May with posters placed in tram carriages showing what trams would look like if not repaired after being damaged by vandals.

Also in April "Rīgas satiksme" held an opinion poll on its webpage to find out what the webpage visitors see as the best and most efficient way of fighting against vandalism. More than 3500 participated in the poll, and more than a half of them, 60 %, proposed video monitoring to be introduced in public transport.

23% consider tougher fines a better method of restraining vandals. 7% believe that the number of police spot checks should be increased; and the same number pronounce for better informing and educating the public. Only 3% of those polled share the opinion that it would be more efficient to call on honest passengers to report about violations.

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.

"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.