[ad_1]
Rarely have many of Mitt i’s readers reacted so strongly to the news that SL introduced a requirement to avoid the travel fund before boarding the bus.
“Crazy, move the blippers on the buses!” writes a reader.
“How can people show their card when they are not given the opportunity?” write another.
But now there is a solution on the way. Safety glasses will now be installed on SL buses so that passengers can obtain their tickets in front of the drivers.
It is the Nobina bus company that has developed a prototype safety glass to be mounted in front of the cabin, so that passengers can step on the front without exposing drivers to the risk of infection.
– Now we finally have a protection that has been approved by the Swedish Work Environment Authority, says David Erixon, Nobina’s communications manager.
I don’t have first
They have been working to produce a protective glass together with the Swedish bus glass manufacturer since early this summer, he says.
But the first proposal was rejected by the Swedish Work Environment Authority. It was too low and infection from a tall person could reach the driver.
High protection
The new so-called crash barrier is 1.95 centimeters high, made of polycarbonate / macrolone and sloped towards the dashboard so that passengers cannot lean towards the driver.
The protection is approved for two types of vehicles, Volvo 7900/8900, but must be adapted to more.
– We also have this type in Stockholm, and a total of about 50 types of vehicles that circulate in the country.
Installed on all buses
All buses that Nobina operates for SL must have the protections, so that passengers know for sure that they can take out their cards.
According to David Erixon, the protections are not complicated to implement and the work can be done at night when the buses are in depot.
– The next step is now to dialogue with safety representatives and the Swedish Work Environment Authority on how safety glasses should be designed for more types of vehicles. I expect a quick process, he says.
Ready in early 2021
For SL, this is good news as they lose revenue every day when travelers don’t pay for themselves. In total, SL estimates that it will result in a loss of more than one billion SEK this year.
– The decision of the Swedish Work Environment Authority now means that the issue is moving forward. We hope to have a solution in early 2021, says Elin Lindström from the SL press service.
Will you require all drivers to install safety glass?
– There is a dialogue and our opinion is that everyone is interested, he says.
In addition to Nobina, Keolis, Arriva and Transdev operate buses in the county on behalf of SL.
Now everyone with money to travel must pay to go by bus.
Boarding in the back of the bus can stay until next fall.
