“Rīgas satiksme” passengers will be able to extend the validity period of tickets purchased during the first state of emergency

In view of the restrictions imposed during the state of emergency, as a result of which residents were urged to avoid using public transport whenever possible, Riga City Council members have initiated amendments to the binding regulations to enable passengers to extend the validity period of tickets purchased during the first state of emergency.

The validity period of tickets purchased on “Rīgas satiksme” e-talons is one year. Passengers who purchased tickets on their e-talons before or at the beginning of the first state of emergency were unable to use them both because several restrictions had been imposed—shops and other facilities were closed—and because some passengers were working and studying remotely. The government and we, the municipality, also urged people to avoid using public transport unnecessarily in order to prevent the spread of the disease. In view of all these circumstances, most residents have not used their tickets, and their validity period will soon expire or has already expired. By allowing purchased tickets to be extended, the municipality is thus responding to residents’ needs during this difficult period,” explains M. Kodis, the initiator of the proposed amendments and Deputy Chair of the Transport and Traffic Affairs Committee.

The option to exchange tickets purchased on e-talons will be available only to passengers who purchased them before the pandemic or during the first state of emergency and have not used them because of the restrictions. The specific period during which the tickets must have been purchased, as well as the period during which the purchased tickets may be exchanged, will be specified later.

It is not technically possible to extend the validity period of the tickets. Therefore, residents who purchased tickets on their e-talons during this period and have not used them will have to visit one of “Rīgas satiksme”’s Customer Service Centres, where the unused tickets will be exchanged.

The Riga City Council’s Transport Department, together with “Rīgas satiksme”, is currently drafting amendments to the binding regulations that would allow passengers to exchange unused tickets.

The amendments will still be considered by the Riga City Council’s Transport and Traffic Affairs Committee and at a Riga City Council meeting.

Author

Riga City Council Communication Department