Tashkent authorities have promised to consider proposals to simplify fare payment on buses

Tashkent authorities have stated that they will take into account proposals to simplify fare payment on buses

Tashkent authorities will take into account the opinions of bus passengers regarding the difficulties that arise when paying fares in crowded cabins.

"Proposals to ensure the proper functioning of validators, free access to them, and the creation of convenient conditions for fare payment will be taken into account," the statement said.

At the beginning of the month, the company "Toshshaxartransxizmat" announced that fare inspectors would begin blocking validators on buses and fining fare evaders (under the new rules, fares must be paid immediately upon boarding, otherwise the passenger is considered a fare evader). At the same time, the company accused passengers, who by habit pay their fare upon exiting, of making "excuses."

"The main purpose of temporarily blocking validators is not to subject passengers to fines, but to ensure compliance with the requirement to pay the fare upon entering the bus and to improve the culture of fare payment," the capital's transport department stated.

"Gazeta" wrote about the difficulties in paying, related to the fact that the bus cabin can be full, and paying the fare via QR code can take time. Many passengers, judging by observations, still do not know about the new rules.

One Facebook user wrote: "If a passenger is required to pay precisely upon entry, then first it is necessary to create a real opportunity to do so without hindrance... Why should a passenger have to squeeze through a crowd to get to the payment device?"

Separately, she noted the habit of many passengers standing near the doors, which also makes access to the validator difficult.

"Control should not only be convenient for the inspector, but also fair to the passenger," she emphasized.