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The people of Skaistgiriai, Pušalotas, the surrounding villages feel like they are in another world.
Vilmantas, who lives in Pušalota, like many rural residents, commutes to work in Panevėžys every day. As during the first quarantine, now part of the bus routes have been canceled. Vilmantas says that he cannot be very angry, because at least on weekdays he has the opportunity to go to work and come home. However, on weekends, the towns scattered along this road practically lost contact with the city.
“On Saturday, there are only two buses to Panevėžys: one leaves at eight in the morning and the other at ten in the morning. But there is no one behind. What is the purpose of the trip if there is no possibility of returning? It is unfortunate that the district government does not show how it would be more convenient for the residents. Nobody asks for ten buses, only to leave one with whom to return home, “Vilmantas resented.
He and his neighbors often have to work on weekends as well. When the buses don’t work, people are forced to find someone to take them to town. Vilmantas repeatedly asked the Panevėžys district municipality to abandon at least one trip on weekends, but received no help.
“Even the church bells can be called to the Municipality, nobody answers. From Juan to Pedro, but there is no one who can help. Supposedly he negotiates with the old man, but the old man does not have the funds or the necessary buses. I understand that It is not worth having buses for some people, but residents must somehow communicate with the city. It would be enough to take it in the morning and bring it in the afternoon, “said the man.
You will have to nod to the horses
The Panevėžys District Municipality explained to Vilmantas that Pušalotas is no longer the Panevėžys Territory, but the Pasvalys District Territory, so it must be taken over by his government. Such an argument surprises Pušalotietis, because the people of Medikoniai, Gailiūnai, Skaistgiriai in the Panevėžys district on the way are in the same trouble.
“The residents are left to their own devices. I understand that it is not worth it, but it is not possible to isolate the rural population of the city in this way. We would suffer if the buses did not run only during the quarantine, but the Municipality claims that the trips They will not be returned even after the end of the pandemic, because there are supposedly not enough people to pay to run the bus. What they offer the village is to start breeding horses again and let them graze somewhere near Nevėžis when they come to work. ”, Vilmantas ironized.
Nijolė, who travels from Skaistgiriai to work at the Panevėžys Republican Hospital, was also comforted because when there were no buses on weekends, getting to the hospital became a challenge. You work shifts and have to work at least two weekends a month. Skaistgirieta has nothing left to ask her companions to exchange guard time, although it is very difficult to do so right now.
“Once there are no more buses on the weekend, there is no way to go back. At the moment, the situation in the hospital is really difficult, so it is not a way to do such a responsible job for three days in a row” said the nurse.
She jokes when she’s already a Soviet retiree, so it’s a bit late to learn how to drive a car. And I wouldn’t want to look for another job.
“It is unfortunate that the villages are being emptied, so it will be different if there is no connection. I could look for another job, but I like the current one, I don’t even know if I could work in something else, and above all I need the help of doctors and nurses right now. The old man said it was our problem here. It’s a shame that there is such a big difference between the city and the town, “Nijolė said.
Forces to become helpers
Darius, who uses public transportation, commutes to work in Panevėžys every day from a single farm located between Skaistgiriai and Gailiūnai. He works in the construction sector. When there are more orders, you also have to stuffed animals on the weekends. After the start of the quarantine and the cancellation of bus trips on weekends, he has to ask his colleagues to come from Panevėžys and bring him, or to apologize to his employer that he will not come to work.
Colleagues will not be grateful either, such a service costs money and you will not always ask. When the buses were driving, everything was simple, even if I had to wait, but I could get both to work and home, ”said Darius.
According to him, you will not walk on a ten-mile walk, and hitchhiking is a matter of happiness.
“I don’t drive myself. If there are no more buses, you should ask your neighbors for help. But in that case, half the salary would have to be paid just for transportation. So is it worth working? Better to live off the benefits Is that what our government really wants? ”Darius asked rhetorically.
The bus will become a rarity
Eugenijus Lunskis, director of the municipal administration of the Panevėžys district, stated that during the second quarantine bus trips were reduced by approximately 30 percent. Only those who would guarantee the necessary connection with Panevėžys remain. During the first quarantine, half of all trips were abandoned.
“Seeing that the empty buses are running and the losses only increase, we were forced to take action. Until 2017 we allocated up to 400 thousand LTL for compensation for passenger transport. EUR, and this year about 800 thousand. Euros will be needed. accounts doubled. Definitely the necessary communication is left in each direction, but if we transport a passenger by bus for 20 kilometers, it is a very great luxury “, says the director of administration.
According to E. Lunskis, the decrease in passenger flows was due not only to the quarantine, but also to the deterioration of the demographic situation, as well as the fact that more and more people are moving to their own vehicles. The analysis revealed that the inefficient bus network also contributed to the losses. Therefore, as of April next year, the Municipality plans to leave about half of the routes before the quarantine.
Currently, there is a tender for the purchase of transportation services in four directions. It is expected that from April 1, half of the buses that were in quarantine will no longer be available. We are already talking with communities and elders, preparing for these changes, ”said E. Lunskis.
He admits that already now, with a 30% reduction in the number of bus trips during the second quarantine, there has been outrage among the population.
“During the last four weeks, I have interacted with many people. Three or four times we changed the route times in the directions of Daukniūnai and Pušalotas according to the wishes of the residents, although Pušalotas is no longer in our territory. This is also the case. from the municipality of Pasvalys, ”said E. Lunskis.
Trips to the city were not cut
Unlike the first quarantine, the frequency of buses in Panevėžys did not change. Arnoldas Gražys, director of the Panevėžys bus fleet, stated that passenger flows are monitored and analyzed every week. According to A. Gražis, its decrease is minimal. Also, there are currently no overcrowded buses – the carrier must ensure that only the seats are occupied and that all required distances are maintained.
“We are monitoring the situation. If the Ministry of Health decides to close large shopping centers on weekends, we would also have to react,” said A. Gražys.
According to him, reducing bus trips is always somewhat painful, although a recent analysis revealed that if the bus passes in Panevėžys less than every 25 minutes, a person can reach the destination on foot.
And here, communication with other cities has also become problematic. Currently, the Panevėžys bus fleet has stopped 35 trips, a smaller part of them, 25 are still being made.
“We stopped long-haul flights due to the reduced number of passengers. Compared to the same period last year, where passenger flows were reduced by 50%, we have requested the closure of these deficit flights. We leave only the connection with Klaipeda, because other airlines stopped flights in this direction. Vilnius, Kaunas, Šiauliai, Biržai, Rokiškis, Utena are available, only the frequency of the times has decreased. If the number of passengers on these flights also drops drastically, we would also decide on their closing, ”said A. Gražys.
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