The editorial team of Kaktus.media decided to find out how things are at the final stop of bus No. 71, but getting there was not easy. We spent about 45 minutes waiting at the Alamudun market stop but never saw the bus. In the end, we took a taxi for 394 soms, and the road was very bumpy.
Current situation at the final stop of bus No. 71
Upon arriving at the final stop, we found that it was a complete mess of mud, and any vehicle could get stuck here. There are no signs or covered waiting areas. Additionally, the roads along the bus route, which passes through the former village of Sadovoye, are in terrible condition; a proper road is only present in the last one and a half kilometers of the route.When the bus finally arrived at the final stop, we managed to speak with the driver. He told us that only four buses operate on the line each day, and they do not run on weekends due to the extremely low number of passengers at that time. Given the state of the roads, the fuel costs do not justify their operation.
Road problems and driver difficulties
The bus driver noted that driving on such streets has become extremely difficult. Some sections of the road resemble "shingle." In areas where repairs are being made, work is only done sporadically.While he was trying to avoid one pothole, he ended up hitting another, causing the entire bus to shake violently. "The shaking makes it seem like the windows in the cabin could break, and the bus's suspension suffers. It would be great if this road were repaired," he shared. In case of a breakdown, he would have to pay for the repairs himself; for instance, replacing a cracked window could cost around 25,000 soms, and under such conditions, the equipment often breaks down.
Dangerous pothole for children near the school
Not only on the road but also in places where people wait for the bus, such as near School No. 110, there are potholes that pose a danger to children. A girl fell into such a pothole two weeks ago but did not file a report. The problem with this pothole has not yet been resolved, and it continues to threaten the safety of pedestrians.
It is worth noting that there is a shortage of public transport in Bishkek, especially during morning and evening hours when buses are overcrowded. Many of them are forced to travel on damaged roads, which shortens the lifespan of the buses. According to the State Traffic Safety Department, poor road conditions are one of the main causes of traffic accidents.
Opinion of the Bishkek City Hall
According to the press service of the city hall, the final stop of bus No. 71 is located within the territory of the Dostuk rural administration of the Alamudun district. The road to the village of Sadovoye passes through part of the Alamudun district (400 meters), and these roads also belong to the Dostuk rural administration. The Municipal Transport Department No. 306 has carried out work on filling and grading this road."This final stop does not belong to the city. As reported by the Municipal Enterprise 'Bishkek City Transport,' route No. 71 is organized from the village of Sadovoye to the CHPP. On weekdays, three to four buses operate on the line, and on weekends the route does not function due to low passenger traffic. This route was created at the request of the residents of Sadovoye and a letter from the Transport Ministry to the Transport Department. Initially, two buses were on the line, and later their number was increased to four," the city hall reported.
