The summer heat in Lviv has prompted a strict inspection of passenger service quality. Employees of the Lviv City Council Transport Department conducted a large-scale inspection to ensure that cooling systems in public transport are functioning properly. The results of the inspection were disappointing: malfunctions were found in a significant portion of the transport, and carriers faced financial liability.

Scope of inspection and violations found

During the latest inspection, city council employees thoroughly checked the operation of climate systems in 33 buses operating on popular routes No. 20, 23, 34, and 43. Also under scrutiny were 11 trolleybuses following routes No. 30 and No. 32. Statistics showed that passenger comfort is often threatened due to technical failures.

In total, the following violations were recorded during the raid:

  • Air conditioners did not work at all in six buses.
  • In two trolleybuses on route No. 32, the air conditioning systems also turned out to be non-functional.

Fines and carrier liability

The leader in the number of violations was the carrier LLC "Fiakr-Lviv", which had four cases of non-functioning air conditioners. Another two violations were recorded for PJSC "Lviv ATP-14630". For each such incident, carriers will have to pay a fine of 1700 hryvnias.

The situation with trolleybuses has its own specifics. The city council explained that the current contract with LKP "LvivElectrotrans" does not provide for the imposition of financial fines for such violations. However, this does not mean impunity: the heads of the depot and the enterprise bear personal responsibility for non-functioning air conditioning systems in trolleybuses.

Overall picture: 28 cases in two weeks

Inspections conducted last week and this week have already revealed 28 cases of air conditioner malfunctions in Lviv public transport. Control over the condition of the equipment is carried out throughout the year, but during the summer period, attention to cooling systems becomes a priority. At the moment, almost 80% of buses that theoretically should be equipped with air conditioners have been checked.

Which transport is equipped with air conditioners?

As of now, only 180 out of approximately 500 city buses are equipped with air conditioners. Passengers can count on coolness when boarding the following routes:

  • No. 5a, 14, 19, 20, 21, 23, 32, 34, 37, 41, 43, 48, 49a, 51, 53, 55a, and 84.

At the same time, air conditioning systems are absent on routes No. 1a, 3a, 6a, 7, 8a, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 39, 39a, 40, 45, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, and 92.

Among electric transport, the situation looks better: air conditioners are installed in more than 60 out of 134 trams and trolleybuses that go on the line daily.

Informing passengers

To avoid unpleasant surprises, Lviv has begun implementing a system of visual notification. Special stickers began to be placed in public transport, which honestly inform passengers about the absence of an air conditioner in a particular carriage or bus. At the moment, most electric transport and part of the buses already have such marks.

This inspection is taking place against the backdrop of a recent fare increase, which occurred in Lviv on May 16. Now tariffs depend on the method of payment: the most advantageous is travel with "LeoCard", while cash payment is the most expensive. Passengers paying for travel are entitled to expect from carriers not only affordable prices but also comfortable conditions on the way, especially on hot days.