The subject is not new because, as the spokesperson for Bolesławiec City Hall Agnieszka Gergont points out, it was one of the campaign promises of the incumbent mayor. There is a chance that Bolesławiec—following the example of cities such as Żory and Lubin—will introduce free public transport, but this may happen no earlier than in three years, that is, after the end of the sustainability period for EU-funded projects.
If such a solution is introduced, more paid parking zones will certainly appear in Bolesławiec. As A. Gergont explains, this is intended both for environmental reasons and to encourage greater vehicle mobility. Leaving a car in such a place for the whole day simply will not pay off. (This may encourage Bolesławiec residents to use public transport.) This is the case on Prusa Street and at Piłsudski Square. Vehicle turnover is definitely higher there. Even city officials have stopped parking under the City Hall high-rise.
Czy będziesz częściej korzystać z komunikacji miejskiej, jeśli będzie ona za darmo?
It is worth adding—as Andrzej Jagiera, president of Miejski Zakład Komunikacji, said during the December session of the Bolesławiec City Council Andrzej Jagiera—that MZK ticket prices are the lowest in Lower Silesia and among the lowest in Poland, and have not been changed since 2011. During that time, the City Council changed only the price of a monthly ticket, lowering it from PLN 72 to PLN 63.
What is more, MZK’s fleet is considered one of the best in the area. “This was even confirmed by the transport plan prepared by the District Office, which identified all the strengths of carriers operating in the city and county. Our fleet received the highest rating there,” A. Jagiera emphasised.
The company also plans to obtain funding from the European Union to finance the purchase of another 12 low-floor, low-emission or zero-emission buses adapted to carrying people with disabilities.
We will return to this topic.