The fact that passenger buses are driving outside the special lane allocated to them on some streets in Baku has caused discontent among other road users.
Oku.Az– reports that this topic has become a topic of discussion on social networks.
“Bus number 199 goes off its track on Sharifzade Street and crosses the path of cars and accidents occur. When we cross the bus lane, we are fined 100 AZN and 2 penalty points are added. But why are buses not fined when they go off their lanes?” the complainant wrote.
We sent a request to the Chief Department of the State Traffic Police regarding the matter.
Department inspector, police lieutenant. Elvin Hajiyev Oku.AzHe said in his statement that bus drivers who deviate from the bus lane will be fined.
“It should be noted that bus lanes are separated from other lanes by horizontal marking line 1.1. If the bus moves into another lane, this means a violation of the requirement of horizontal marking line 1.1. In such a case, drivers are fined 40 manats according to article 327.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences.
As for the crossing of other vehicles in the bus lane, according to article 327.1-1 of the Civil Code, other vehicles driving on roads marked with signs 5.9, intended for general use vehicles, except for cases permitted by the Law “On Traffic” the drivers of their vehicles are fined 100 manats and two points for driving in the bus lane,” said E. Hajiyev.
But why do buses have to leave the lanes assigned to them?
We addressed our question to the transport company “Khaliq Faigoglu”, to which bus number 199 also belongs.
company press secretary Nizam Rzayev Okhu.Azconfirmed the fact in its statement and said that they are aware of the problem.
“In reality, no driver changes lanes at will. Buses running through the city centre, including the number 199, are tall, so branches from large trees obstruct movement on many roads.
For example, Jafar Jabbarli Street, Zivarbey Ahmadbayov Street, Abbas Mirza Sharifzadeh Street, Samad Vurgun Street, Moskva Avenue, the road between the place called “Shamakhinka” and the metro station “20 Janvar”, etc. We have the same problem on roads like this one.
Even if the driver wants to, he cannot drive on the bus lane, because, on the one hand, the bent branches on the road reduce the visibility distance to zero and, on the other hand, large branches cause serious damage to the bus.
The situation is the same on the Sharifzade Street. On one side there are branches crossing the street, and on the other there are places of public catering, and despite the fine, some drivers still park and wait for someone, or simply park and go somewhere. In such a case, it is impossible to ask the bus driver to drive in his own lane. “If there are no obstacles on the road, the driver will not have to change lanes,” said N. Rzayev.
What will be the fate of the branches blocking the passage of buses on the side of the road?
We addressed our question to the Baku City Environmental Association.
From the union Oku.AzIn response to the query of the city of Baku, it was stated that the pruning process is periodically carried out on bus lanes in the territory of the city of Baku:
“However, it should be noted that since the trees are alive, the branches grow back after a while and in some places such a scene can be recreated.”
But the solution to this problem that passenger buses face What is the way out for Azerbaijan Land Transport Agency (AYNA)?
From the Press Service of the Institution Oku.AzIn response to the query, it was reported that AYNA carries out analyses on streets and avenues in the capital:
“When it is discovered that trees obstruct the movement of buses, an application is submitted to the Baku City Ecological Management Trade Union. Existing problems are eliminated by pruning the trees.”
Aziza Ismayilova
