Bus operators' mass protest disrupted tens of thousands, faces near-million-euro fine

Two weeks before elections, on September 16, the Passenger Carriers Association organized a large-scale protest called "One Day Without Regional Buses." Eight transport operators took part, and more than 3,200 regional bus routes were cancelled throughout the day.

Latvia's Road Transport Administration estimates the protest affected the daily lives of 40,000 to 50,000 people, making it the largest protest action of its kind held in the country so far.

Impact on students and parents

One example involves a ninth-grade student named Daniela, who lives in Liepāja and commutes daily by bus to school in Grobiņa, about ten kilometers away. On the day of the protest, no bus arrived. Although her family had heard about the planned action, they had forgotten about it on the actual day. Daniela's mother, Māra Vingre, who was ill herself, had to get up and drive her daughter to school by car. Because of the cancelled service, Daniela missed two lessons.

Fine expected to approach one million euros

The carriers now face a fine for organizing the protest, with the total amount nearing one million euros. The action took place amid dissatisfaction among operators over the current conditions for servicing regional bus routes, and it disrupted thousands of people who rely on public transport daily, including students and commuters in Latvia's regions.