St. Petersburg residents are enduring unbearable heat in city buses, with temperatures often exceeding acceptable levels, despite the presence of air conditioning systems. Inspections reveal inconsistencies in temperature control and a complex system of checks and penalties for carriers.
The St. Petersburg State Public Institution “Organizer of Transportation” is responsible for checking buses for readiness in hot weather. However, residents frequently share photos showing temperatures inside buses reaching as high as +42°C. Officials claim that these photos alone are insufficient for issuing violation reports.
According to Alexey Korshunov, Head of the Department for Control of Urban Passenger Transport, thermometers installed in some buses are unverified and may provide inaccurate readings. Inspectors use verified thermometers to measure temperatures at head, waist, and feet levels, calculating the average.
The Ministry of Transport sets the standard for indoor temperature at +25°C when it’s hotter than +20°C outside. There are no strict regulations regarding air conditioning in ground transport. Inspectors also assess airflow and temperature changes near the air conditioner.
While the “Organizer of Transportation” reports receiving about 100 heat-related complaints per month, transport workers advise passengers to contact their hotline if conditions are unbearable. They also suggest avoiding the rear of the bus, considered the hottest area, and ensuring windows are closed when the air conditioner is running. However, monitoring window closures is not consistently enforced.
Roman Yurenev, GR-director of Vest-Service LLC, stated that their buses are equipped with cameras to monitor vent usage, and drivers are instructed not to open them.
The current system of checks and penalties is still being implemented, with fines of 1000 rubles issued to carriers for temperature violations. State institutions like Passazhavtotrans (PAT) and Gorelectrotrans (GET) face the most challenges, with a significant portion of their fleets lacking air conditioning. PAT has 30% of buses without cooling systems, and GET has 26% of trolleybuses and trams. PAT has signed a contract to lease 300 new buses which may solve the problem to a certain degree.
Inspectors check various aspects of public transport, including driver uniforms, driving manner, documents, fire extinguishers, cleanliness, and sticker placement. They prioritize responding to complaints and can check approximately 300 vehicles daily.
During a recent inspection, Fontanka, along with inspectors, found that temperatures exceeded the +25°C standard in all four randomly checked buses. The maximum recorded temperature was +32.5°C.
Alexander Petrov, Deputy Head of the Department for Control of Urban Passenger Transport, reminisced about a time when people were more resilient to discomfort, prioritizing simply getting to and from work.
The heat is expected to continue, with daytime temperatures around +30°C. A decrease is anticipated next week, with temperatures ranging from +28°C to +20°C.