Belgrade's New Ramps: Traffic Safety or Budget Drain?

The recent installation of new ramps in Belgrade's city center, ostensibly for traffic safety and public transport access, has drawn sharp criticism from local civic groups. Nataša Pantić of Zbor Stari grad views these ramps not as a solution but as another in a series of "experiments" by the city authorities, who she argues fail to conduct proper studies before implementing changes.

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rampe predstavljaju "još jedan u nizu eksperimenata gradskih vlasti"

Her critique extends beyond the ramps themselves, questioning the very purpose and effectiveness of such measures. Pantić highlights that despite existing parking violations and a visible presence of municipal police, no consistent enforcement has occurred. This lack of action, she suggests, fuels suspicion that the ramps are merely a pretext for siphoning funds from the city budget, a concern that resonates with a public accustomed to questioning official projects.

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Gradske vlasti umesto da urade studiju ili procenu šta Beogradu treba, i onda sprovedu neku promenu, zapravo rade sve eksperimentalno, pa tako i sa saobraćajem

Furthermore, Pantić paints a grim picture of Belgrade's public transportation system, labeling it a "catastrophe." She points to seemingly arbitrary decisions, such as repainting buses, and the privatization of routes, as evidence of a dysfunctional system. The introduction of dynamic timetables, she argues, has done little to improve the situation. The overarching sentiment is that the city administration is engaged in superficial actions, creating an illusion of progress rather than addressing fundamental issues.

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S druge strane, ovde se ljudi godinama parkiraju, iako to nije dozvoljeno. I do sada ništa nije urađeno kako bi se to sprečilo, poput naplaćivanja kazni. Mi ovde imamo mnogo komunalnih policajaca koji ništa ne rade, nije najjasnije njihova uloga i samo postoje. Samim tim, ne možemo a da ne posumnjamo da je ova rampa samo još jedan način isisavanja novca iz budžeta grada, odnosno korupcija, kao što smo i navikli

From a local perspective in Belgrade, these developments are not just about traffic flow or public transport efficiency. They reflect a deeper frustration with governance, a perceived lack of transparency, and a pattern of questionable decision-making. The N1 Serbia report captures this local sentiment, where skepticism towards official initiatives is high, and citizens are quick to scrutinize actions that appear to lack clear justification or benefit.

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sve što se dešava sa gradskim prevozom u Beogradu je "jedna velika katostrofa"