We find out how much Belarusians pay for public transport and what awaits those who decide to save money

Lost in thought, didn't have time, forgot to validate - what don't fare dodgers come up with, just to avoid paying for a bus, trolleybus or tram ride. Having asked to be partners with public transport inspectors, "7 days" correspondents found out what the most common excuses are for "hares" and how many tickets can be purchased for the amount of one fine.

Who bought a pack of tickets...

Inspectors Alexander Baburkin and Ivan Goncharik are respected people in their profession. Their combined experience has long exceeded 25 years. They have been working together since 2016. Today, together with them, we will travel between the "Krasnaya" stop and Myasnikov Square. During an eight-hour shift, inspectors need to check about 40 units of rolling stock: buses, trolleybuses and trams.

- At the beginning of the shift, we receive a work order, personal video recorders and, after undergoing a medical examination at the control station, we put on warm winter uniform jackets. We drive off along our routes, - Alexander Baburkin introduces us to the intricacies of the process.

it is 14:00. Bus #19 slowly approaches the stop, and the route we need starts from it. While we are driving, we learn that "hares" have their own seasonality. For example, there are many more of them in winter than in summer. This is understandable, many go out of town on vacation and have no need to ride public transport.
- In winter, especially in snowy weather or icy conditions, passengers try to switch from personal transport to public transport. Then the load increases several times. Accordingly, there are more of those who do not want to pay for travel, - the interlocutors note. - People have all sorts of excuses: some insist that they only need to go one stop, others argue that they ran in at the last door and didn't have time to buy anything, and still others swear that they approached the driver with a large bill, but he didn't have change.

Penalty ride

Our heroes have had plenty of interesting cases over the years. For example, one of the country's famous actors, whose name my interlocutors decided to keep quiet, got caught without paying. So he honestly admitted that he was glued to his phone and completely forgot about paying the fare. At the first request, he showed his passport and paid everything on the spot. And it turned out that this was the first fine in his life.

- In general, people react calmly, they understand that they have violated the law, - Ivan Goncharik clarifies, nodding to his partner at the approaching new tram, which has been driving along the streets of the capital since the beginning of the year. The doors of the "horned" one open, and at the sight of the controllers, some passengers quickly jump up from their seats and leave the cabin. However, not everyone is so attentive. Here is our first "hare" - a girl of about 20 years old. She is embarrassed, lowers her eyes and asks not to fine her, saying that she has only traveled two stops and will not do it again. The photographer and I are ready to believe the girl and let her go,but our escorts are adamant.

- The law is the law , and you have broken it. When you come to the store for groceries, do not say at the checkout: I only took bread and MILK, so I will not pay or will do it next time, - the controller Baburkin strictly notes, and we immediately agree with him.

- You do not have your passport with you, so we cannot issue a ruling to pay the fine. According to the legislation of the Republic of Belarus , we draw up an official request to the police. When we establish your identity, we will fill out the appropriate act. Later, you will be invited to draw up a report at the bus station at 6 Bobruiskaya, where this offense will be considered, - Ivan Goncharik explains to the violator.

The fine is from 0.5 to one basic unit, and it can be paid within a calendar month. If you have your passport with you, then pay in cash or through the ERIP system, so to speak, without leaving the place of the violation. This is exactly what the second fare dodger did. The young man, looking thoughtfully out the window, did not even notice our appearance. Following the controllers out, he searched for something in his jacket pockets for a long time, then muttered discontentedly: "Fine me if you want to."

- We want passengers to follow the rules of public transport. One of them says that you must pay for your ride if you do not have an exemption document. For example, a certificate confirming that you are a schoolchild, - calmly explains Alexander Baburkin, filling out the resolution on the imposition of an administrative penalty. At this time, the fare dodger logs into Internet banking to pay the fine - 21 rubles . By the way, for this amount, a MINSK resident could ride public transport 20 times, if he bought a ticket for only 85 kopecks.
Self-sufficiency - almost 3 rubles

Controllers unanimously assure that it is difficult to draw a portrait of the average "hare": students, pensioners, housewives, and even respectable city dwellers in expensive suits like to ride without a ticket. But the law is the same for everyone!

- There are no fare dodgers in taxis, metro or trains. Why then do some people ignore paying for their fares on buses, trolleybuses and trams? - controllers ask.

Moreover, passengers compensate only a small part, the rest is made up by the city budget. If public transport were self-sufficiently paid, a ticket would cost almost 3 rubles.

A trolleybus pulls up to the stop. We go in with the controllers, there are not many people in the cabin. The payment check begins. Everything goes smoothly: every single student shows certificates, the rest of the passengers show coupons, travel cards and smartphones with the "Oplati" service.

- How nice, all the passengers paid for their fares. By the way, this is happening more and more often, when there is not a single fare dodger in the cabin, the inspectors say proudly.

We change to the bus. We immediately observe a familiar picture: seeing men in dark blue jackets with video recorders and an ID in their breast pocket, one of the passengers on the middle platform immediately rushes towards the driver. The "Ministry of Transport" employees stop him: you should have taken care of buying a ticket as soon as you entered the vehicle, and not when you saw the inspectors.

The situation is also quite common on the next tram: a passenger assures that she has an unlimited travel card for all types of transport. It turns out that she has a BSK, but she was too lazy to put it to the validator, so the inspectors' terminal did not count the payment. They forgive her forgetfulness. After unlocking the system, the girl finally put the card to the device.
- Now the fare is paid. Have a nice trip! - the inspectors wish the passengers with a smile.

Marina VALAKH,
photo by Tatyana MATUSEVICH,
"7 days".