Unlucky subscribers of this column know very well and have, I assume, googled for a long time that its author will periodically find a reason why he has to write about the so-called. public transport as a kind of social, political, economic, cultural and moral laboratory, or simply a mirror reflection of society... Well, today is one of those occasions, but look at it on the bright side: maybe this time I'll manage not to mention Vuฤiฤ, Aleksandar Vuฤiฤ . Although his will background radiation it doesn't matter how it feels.
Well, the capital Busplus; do you remember that "Djilas' thieving company", as he likes to (pretends to) believe, but everyone who needs morally legitimate reason to smuggle in public transport, and what else would he do without such (pseudo) cover? Even the native Democratic Party no longer remembers Djilas, but Busplus is still there, and it's here to stay. And even when he really leaves, he will remain, only under a different name and ownership structure.
It is trivial for me to remind you of the wretched, demagogic trick of an organized group of notorious incompetents, posers, demagogues and conscious liars, formally known and registered under the name of the Serbian Progressive Party, which threatened/promised that the people of Belgrade would be bombarded with misery called Busplus. It was in vain that sober people warned that it would not work like that - regardless of whether Busplus was "good" or "bad" in itself - because valid business contracts cannot be terminated unilaterally without paying dearly: it was important for the progressives to promise either what nonsense that will bring them votes, and it was very convenient for the mass speechless voting to believe in it, not because it is possible, but precisely because it is stupid and absurd. It doesn't matter if it's true, but if it sounds good!
But what happens? Nothing like a "breakup" with Busplus, on the contrary: it would seem that the latter is coming back with a vengeance. That is why it returns to this column. Back then, I was at war, not with Busplus as such, even less with the idea that people should pay for transportation (every good or service should be paid for, of course at a reasonable price justified by quality), but with the bandit idea that "regulating" citizens and passengers can and must be the same as senseless repression and exploitation of them.
I pay for the transportation myself, and I intend to do so in the future, and I am in no way advocating the "right to smuggle". I believe that it is reasonable that as a return service for my money I get not only reasonable quality transportation, but also permanent absence of any kind of senseless bullying. If the bullying does occur, as a free and responsible citizen I reserve every right to active resistance, as well as to invite and organize others for that purpose.
By that mistreatment, I don't mean occasional controls: it's reasonable to check people's tickets here and there, and it's never difficult for me to show mine to the controller. Only, control cannot and must not mean - as it was back then - stopping and holding means of transport as if we were at a border crossing, and thus disrupting the normal life and rhythm of citizens' obligations! Also, the vampirized idea of โโmandatory "validation" of the personalized subscription card every time you enter the vehicle is completely meaningless from the point of view of payment, i.e. it has nothing to do with it because that ticket has already been bought, and that is why in the previous period it was boycotted and rejected by a considerable majority of passengers with every right. Now we are once again arrogantly, brazenly and essentially violently threatened with it, and they also say that the controller will "block" the card if we don't validate ourselves, and then we will have to deal with it and pay extra for its unblocking?! Well, it won't happen and it won't be possible... I hereby publicly warn the authorities that I might bite the hand (and you decide if I've been vaccinated against rabies) of the first deli who tries to "block" me. a properly purchased ticket, and it certainly does not cross my mind to ever do anything or give a single dinar to "unblock" something that should never have been blocked. because it is not possible "to punish" passengers with a duly paid ticket!!! In this sense, people, I seriously ask you: are you normal?! Because it is, therefore, a simple and unequivocal, "school" example of how the apparently invisible border of legitimacy is brazenly crossed: how to charge for transportation services (which is fine in itself, which again also does not mean that they are allowed for that purpose) whatever means) turns to pure, self-serving living in the name of one's bureaucratic fantasies.
By the way, it's not too bad to mention this. At some point there was a rumor in the papers that the possibility of limiting the number of rides you are entitled to with a "monthly stamp" was being considered. The matter was denied, but not very decisively, that is. it is not said that it is not true, but only that nothing has been decided yet. It's okay to blow cold air, but it's better to warn right away: let no one even dare to introduce something like that! Why? Because it goes against the very essence of the idea of โโpublic public transport anywhere in the civilized world, so let's call it "capitalist"! When you buy a weekly or monthly ticket for transportation in London, Paris, Brussels, or I don't know where (I'm deliberately mentioning the cities I've driven a lot), it goes without saying that there are no further restrictions! It's like a subscription to cable TV or wireless Internet: no one limits your flow, or tells you that you can, what do I know, watch TV for up to 4 hours without interruption, and then you have to disconnect for 3 hours... You paid - drive. Well, that's why things like public transport are always an important social litmus: simply, every bully and hochstapler is quickly unmasked on them. Well, I didn't even mention that Vuฤiฤ this time.
