Belgrade Public City Company signed on April 14, 2010 contract with Belarus Company “Belkomunmas” to import 83 trolleybuses, with all neccessary spare parts, tools and training for users. This contract is worth 18 million Euros.
New trolleybuses are low floored, acclimatized, with 26 seats and total capacity for 101 passengers. They also have space for persons with disability who will easily use public transport.
Nice news. I was in one of mentioned trolleybus, on line 21, in nice October morning and stood in large space, labeled properly for wheelchair users or mothers with kids in pram.
But! Finally we realised that all nice things come to its end, not to mention that this end came before any starting chance.
Entrance ramp, very simple, folded one, was „properly” fixed and opening handle is pulled out.
Than I remembered London buss drivers, uniformed gentlemen, who wait for disabled passengers to enter with calm, even went out to help if necessary and ask with a smile „Is it OK dear”.
We have got our trolleybuses, probably with all spare parts, tools but without training for drivers – anyway, why would any person with disability bother to go anywhere by public transport. It is much safer at home.