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Urban and suburban transport, which is supposed to meet the expectations of citizens, is experiencing multiple dysfunctions and does not obey any rules governing the sector. The notion of public service no longer has its place and passengers continue to suffer the dictates of carriers without having the reflex to denounce it. However, do these customers know that they have fully recognized rights?
This is why the Algerian Organization for the Protection and Guidance of Consumers and their Environment (APOCE) wanted to remind public transport users that the law guarantees them many rights when traveling on various public transport vehicles, whether by bus, train, taxi or other.
Contacted by The Young Independentthe president of APOCE indicated that public transport is an important service in the lives of citizens, but excesses are recorded on a daily basis. This is why, he explained, they are trying, through his organization, to attract the attention of consumers so that they can claim their rights. “Our mission is to alert whenever these rights are violated, using administrative or judicial channels,” Mr. Zebdi stressed. To support our efforts, he added, it is essential that consumers know and actively claim their rights and report data.
“We also encourage consumers to report any anomalies or violations so that prompt and appropriate action can be taken to protect their rights within public transport,” Mustapha Zebdi added.
Thus, APOCE wishes to inform traveling citizens of their rights on board land transport. These are the rights guaranteed by the law in force. “In the event of non-compliance by the carrier with its obligations, the traveler may take legal action against the carrier with the National Directorate of Transport, or the competent security services,” noted APOCE in a press release.
On board the transport, the driver must imperatively guarantee a clean and safe environment. As for respecting passengers, the carrier must not use audiovisual devices without the consent of its passengers.
All employees on board the transport must respect the rules of good practice, by wearing appropriate and respectful clothing. They must also adopt proper behavior in their relations with their customers. They are also prohibited from smoking on board the vehicle.
As for baggage, the carrier cannot refuse hand luggage on board its vehicle other than domestic animals placed outside of a cage. For collective taxis, all passengers are entitled to a weight limit of 15 kg per seat for their baggage. During the journey, the driver must be at the service of his passengers, as well as the elderly and disabled.
According to Mr. Zebdi’s organization, the current law also stipulates that the taxi driver must answer calls from customers during the service but also help the elderly and disabled to get on, off and carry their luggage in the vehicle. The driver is prohibited from smoking on board the vehicle, in order to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers.
It should be noted that the public land transport service is defined as having to “effectively satisfy the needs of citizens in terms of transport under the most advantageous conditions for the national community and for users in terms of safety, availability of means of transport, cost, price and quality of service
However, several dysfunctions are observed on the ground, particularly when it comes to public transport, such as buses. The latter do not have any standards, especially with regard to the quality of service, safety, user comfort and, of course, compliance with the highway code.
According to users of this means of public transport, drivers do not observe mandatory stops at stop signs, overtake dangerously, sometimes take the wrong direction and run stops to overtake those in front of them. “Some who dare to complain are mistreated and sometimes even thrown out. Most transporters impose their diktat with complete impunity,” users deplore. Added to all this is the behavior of some drivers of these vehicles, who allow themselves to stop for several minutes in order to buy a cup of coffee, a sandwich or cigarettes.
Passengers are therefore deprived of a public transport service that meets their needs. A situation that should prompt those responsible for the sector to rigorously apply the laws that allow this activity to be organised.