The editorial team of Kaktus.media decided to visit the final stop of the 71st bus. It turned out to be not so easy: we waited at the Alamedin market stop for about 45 minutes but never saw the bus. In the end, we took a taxi to the final stop, spending 394 soms. On some sections of the road, we were shaken quite a bit.
The current situation at the final stop of the 71st bus
Upon arrival, we found that the final stop was a complete mess of mud, and any vehicle could get stuck there. There were no signs or canopies indicating the stop. The roads in the area of the final stop and along the entire route of the 71st bus are in terrible condition; only the last one and a half kilometers of the road can be considered somewhat acceptable.When the bus finally arrived at the final stop, we spoke with the driver, who reported that only four buses are in operation on the line, and they do not run on weekends due to the almost complete absence of passengers, mainly because there are no schoolchildren. High fuel costs and poor roads make operating the route economically unfeasible.
Drivers' difficulties on bad roads
The bus driver shared that driving on such streets has become impossible. Parts of the route have turned into "shingles," where the roads are riddled with potholes and bumps. Repairs are only being done locally, on individual sections.After trying to avoid one pothole, the driver inevitably ended up in another, causing the entire bus to shake constantly. "With this kind of shaking, it feels like the windows are about to shatter, and the bus's suspension is suffering. It would be great if the roads were repaired," he shared, noting that in case of a breakdown, all costs would fall on him. For example, replacing a window can cost 25,000 soms, as the equipment often breaks down in such conditions.
Dangerous potholes near the school
Potholes can be found not only on the roadway but also where passengers, particularly children, wait. At School No. 110, children wait for their 71st bus right next to a dangerous pothole. According to witnesses, two weeks ago, a girl about ten years old fell into the pothole, but no report was filed. The pothole remains open and poses a danger to pedestrians.It is worth noting that Bishkek is experiencing a shortage of public transport: people constantly travel in overcrowded buses, especially during morning and evening hours. Many of them are forced to navigate broken roads, which shortens the lifespan of the buses. According to the Traffic Safety Department, the condition of the roads is one of the main causes of traffic accidents.
Opinion of the Bishkek City Hall
Representatives of the press service of the city hall, referring to the municipal administration of the Sverdlovsk district, reported that 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 Sadovoe passes through an enclave of the Alamudun district (400 meters), and these roads also belong to the Dostuk rural administration. The Municipal Transport Unit No. 306 has been filling this road with gravel and grading it."The final stop does not belong to the city. As reported by the Municipal Enterprise 'Bishkek City Transport,' route No. 71 is designated from the village of Sadovoe to the CHPP. On weekdays, three to four buses operate on the line. The route does not function on weekends due to low passenger traffic related to the absence of schoolchildren. This route was organized at the request of the residents of the village of Sadovoe and based on a letter from the Municipal Transport Unit to the transport department. Initially, two buses were in operation, but later their number was increased to four," the city hall stated.
