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🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan /Culture & Society

Bus driver fired in Osh after refusing passenger with stroller

From 24.kg · () Russian

Translated from Russian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Outcome reported
  • A bus driver in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, was fired after refusing to transport a woman with a stroller.
  • The incident occurred on bus route No. 43 when the driver insisted the stroller be folded, despite the woman's explanation that her baby was sleeping.
  • The incident sparked public outrage online, and the municipal transport company apologized, though they noted policy requires strollers to be folded.

A bus driver in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, has been dismissed following a public outcry over his refusal to transport a woman with a baby in a stroller. The incident, which occurred on bus route No. 43, involved a passenger, Aychurok Nuraly kyzy, who was traveling with her five-month-old daughter and two older children.

According to the passenger's account, she had placed the stroller in a designated area within the bus. However, the driver demanded that she fold it. She explained that her infant was asleep, but the driver refused to continue the journey until she complied. Other passengers expressed frustration over the delay, leading the woman to eventually exit the bus.

The state calls on citizens to have children, but at the same time does not create elementary conditions for parents on public transport.

— Social media userReflecting a common sentiment among users who believe public infrastructure is inadequate for families.

The situation escalated when a video of the incident surfaced on social media, igniting widespread debate. The Osh Municipal Transport Enterprise issued an apology to the passenger and confirmed the driver's termination. The company also stated that while space is allocated for strollers, they must be folded during the ride, a point of contention in the dispute.

This incident highlights ongoing challenges faced by parents with young children using public transportation in Kyrgyzstan. Similar conflicts between drivers and passengers with strollers have been reported in both Osh and Bishkek. Online discussions reveal divided opinions, with some users criticizing the lack of adequate facilities for parents on public transport, while others argue that folded strollers are necessary to prevent congestion in crowded buses.

Strollers can cause inconvenience in crowded buses, and it is recommended to use taxis.

— Social media userRepresenting the opposing view that passengers should adapt to existing conditions or seek alternative transport.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by 24.kg in Russian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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