Cold in winter, scorching in summer/ Urban areas of Tirana like "Dyl's cart"

2023-07-05 20:30:00, Denoncim Xhovan Shyti

Cold in winter, scorching in summer/ Urban areas of Tirana like "Dyl's

Traveling with urban service buses within the capital on these hot summer days is a real torture. Not so much for the continuation of arrival-departure delays at the stations, this is disruptive for commuters who go to work, than for the return of the old avaz of the lack of conditions within urban areas.

An inspection inside the buses that cover more than 20 urban public transport lines of Tirana would be enough to ascertain that even though several decades have passed, the conditions offered by this service are more or less the same. With changes to the external facade of some of the bus lines.

Cold in winter, scorching in summer/ Urban areas of Tirana like "Dyl's

Taking public transport within the capital in summer is like being inside an airtight oven. No functional air conditioning system, no windows, the opening of which can give you some natural freshness. Such is the state of the ruling part of the conditions encountered among the urban residents of the lines where the scorching heat and the air heavy from sweating beyond normal make the journey unbearable.

Cold in winter, scorching in summer/ Urban areas of Tirana like "Dyl's

"I sweat more when I'm on the bus than when I'm walking ," says Leart V. nervously, an engineer who, due to the distance from his workplace, has to travel every day with the urban line. "Train Station - Zoological Park". A line that is covered by a fleet of very amortized buses, whose engines seem as if, from moment to moment, they will stop working. Turning on the air conditioners inside the passenger cabin of these buses means planting the safe combustion of the engines, which even without turning on the air conditioning system are panting from the heat. But the conditions of the passenger seats are also patchy. The entire fleet of buses of this line is in this age parameter.

Cold in winter, scorching in summer/ Urban areas of Tirana like "Dyl's

But this is not the only urban transport line within the capital that offers the torture of traveling between heat and sweat. With the exception of a few lines that are covered by quality urbans, the vast majority are similar to the "Zoo" fleet. There is even worse. There are also urban buses whose outside and inside bring to mind the proverbial "cart of Dyl". See the fleet of buses of the Lapraka line. Or that of the "Jordan Misja-Cyteti Studenti" line, and others that cover the surrounding areas. There is no more mourning. The buses serving these lines are of the "crippled cockroach" type. With roaring engines and smoke to the brim. They offer old-fashioned seats and make up for the lack of air conditioners by leaving open the windows of the "pane" type windows, etc., etc.

Cold in winter, scorching in summer/ Urban areas of Tirana like "Dyl's

These are the extreme antithesis of the urban bus fleet of some main lines, where the standard of physical condition rules, but not that of passenger service. Because, although the air conditioners are in operation, they are not put into operation due to saving fuel. Because if the air conditioners stay on, the oil consumption almost doubles. Although the Municipality compensates this "loss" to the urban transport service companies, with funds from passenger payments, the comfortable conditions are challenged by keeping the air conditioners turned off, for which the company representatives blame the drivers.

Cold in winter, scorching in summer/ Urban areas of Tirana like "Dyl's

"You are absolutely right, but the heat comes from the fact that there are drivers who avoid our orders and, to save fuel, do not turn on the air conditioning. As a company, we have the entire fleet of buses new. We offer the conditions dictated by the law. I don't know what to say about the others" , replies Gëzim P., manager of one of the capital's main lines, whose fleet of buses is truly enviable.

And here we come to the problem. To the lack of travel conditions. The lack of seats and air conditioners, which provide warm air in the winter and fresh air in the summer... That for the vast majority of the capital's lines, especially those around the capital, has remained the same as at the time of the "Dyli trolley". Making the journey hell for the citizens of Tirana. Even, making the service difficult even for the employees who provide it (the driver's tip). The bravest of whom do not hesitate to openly vent their displeasure.

Cold in winter, scorching in summer/ Urban areas of Tirana like "Dyl's

"Yes Lale, I'm with you. You are right. But we have nothing in hand. You see it yourself. Engine parts. I'm afraid to turn on the air conditioners, because I'm fine, go and start the engine. Why don't we buy new cars, can't we spend this money on our bosses? Xelal B. and Gentjan L.. serve as fatorino and driver, in one of the broken-down buses of a secondary urban line. Both of them are among the victims, because for not fulfilling the conditions, they have to face collisions with travelers, to whom they give the right, but also recommend them to call the Municipality at 0684061277, which is for citizens' complaints.

This is in our hands, the rest of the solution is up to the Municipality", say the officials of the secondary urban line of the piecemeal type. Because indeed in such violations of the terms of the contract, on the part of the companies, the right to restore the law is in the hands of the Municipality, which provides the latter with licenses. According to the law, one of the conditions that a company must fulfill in order to be licensed is that of travel comfort, which, in addition to other obligations, includes equipping buses with functional ventilation systems.

"To be equipped with a ventilation and heating system in accordance with those provided for the relevant type by the manufacturing plant and in working condition" , reads Article 7 of Law No. 1649 "On the fulfillment of some special conditions in the road transport of passengers".