Riga Satiksme Releases Video of Trolleybus Dispute Over Crying Baby
Riga municipal transport company Rīgas satiksme denies that the driver of a route 4 trolleybus told a mother with small children to get off. The company released onboard video and apologised for the upset caused by the conversation.
Rīgas satiksme, the Riga municipal public transport company, has investigated an incident on a route 4 trolleybus after a story spread on social media, and has released video from the vehicle. The company says the driver did not tell a passenger with small children to get off, but it apologises for the distress the conversation caused.
The claims
On the social network Threads, a woman shared an account entrusted to her by her mother. According to it, on 7 October the mother was travelling on the trolleybus with two children: a six-month-old baby and a child aged two years and ten months. The baby cried from time to time during the ride. The account says the driver left her cabin several times to complain about the crying, saying it made her feel sick, and in the end told the woman to leave the vehicle with her children.
The mother explained that the infant is breastfed and consumes nothing else, and had recently received vaccinations. The post expressed bewilderment at such an attitude towards parents of small children.
The company's explanation
Initially, Rīgas satiksme said in comments that a driver telling a mother with a crying child to leave public transport was unacceptable, and asked for more information. After checking, the company stated that the driver, who is herself a mother of three, became worried by the prolonged crying. It says she came out of the cabin, spoke to the mother, suggested trying to hold the baby, offered water and asked other passengers to free a seat.
The company adds that the driver admitted that, because of her agitation, it became hard to concentrate on driving. According to the company, the video recording shows that she did not ask the mother to get off.
Apology and appeal to passengers
Rīgas satiksme expressed regret that the journey was difficult for the mother and child and apologised for the upset caused by the conversation. It urges passengers to be understanding towards parents travelling with small children and, where possible, to offer them a seat.
