2024-04-14 22:33:56
BOLZANO. New protests by public transport users for the malfunctioning of the ticket payment system. The replacement of old machines for purchasing the ticket is creating a series of problems. But the Province pays for the management of the new ticketing system 400 thousand euros per month.
The protests
«I would like to point out – writes a reader – that since the machines with the QR code reader were replaced, you can no longer stamp your dog’s ride or even your bicycle ticket. In fact, the validation machines no longer have the keys for paying for the daily transport of bikes or dogs. Previously, Abo or Family pass holders paid 3.50 euros per day to take the bicycle with you and an amount per kilometer (15 cents) for the transport of your four-legged friend. Now you are forced to buy a ticket from 7 euro and subsequently request a refund for the 3,50 euros paid extra. The app does not provide for the sale of travel tickets for dogs or bicycles for holders of South Tyrolean passes”. Apparently the function will be implemented on buses at the beginning of May.
Another case, another protest. This time it comes from a student from Bolzano who goes to Bressanone every day to attend university lessons: «On Friday 5 April, at 7.42 I take the 10B in via della Zecca to go to the station and take the train to Bressanone. I take out my ABO+ to stamp it at the machine, but it says “Out of service”, so my friends and I put the season ticket back in our wallet. The inspector arrived and although we tried to explain that it had not been possible to stamp the season ticket, we were told that we had to pay the fine. I refused. Answer: “There are cameras, if you don’t give me your name + you’ll get a complaint”.
Costs
The new ticket payment system, which is raising a series of criticisms from users, has also landed in the provincial council. The councilor raised it Thomas Widmann (For South Tyrol with Widmann) with a relative interrogation at cost. L’assessora Daniel Alfreider he explained that new validation machines were not purchased, but a ticketing service. Cost: 400 thousand euros per month. More or less equal – again according to the transport manager – to the management costs of the previous ticketing system.
«The system requires hardware and cables in the bus, already present in the new vehicles, while on the old ones the transport company is responsible for intervening. The service was announced with a European tender which also includes maintenance costs and the replacement of validation machines for the entire duration of the agreement: this was not the case in the past. The old validation machines were no longer up to date.”
According to Alfreider, everything possible has been done to facilitate and accelerate the migration from the old to the new system, but action needs to be taken 700 means. «There is a few months of delay: the desire is to complete the transition from the old to the new system in the next few months 5-6 months”.
2024-04-14 22:33:56