Introduction of pupil’s e-card.
In 2013 Riga started the introduction of the pupil’s e-cards, which combine the functions of both the pupil’s certificate and the e-ticket for transportation.
Initially, the e-card will function as the e-ticket, but later on, with a sticker put on it by the school, it will also get the functions of the pupil’s certificate.
At the next stage, pupils started to use the e-card to get their school lunch, to register in the identification systems of the education institution (access control), as well as to get discounts when visiting participating Riga museums, theatres, Riga zoo etc. E-cards are issued to pupils of Grades 1-12 of Riga schools, as well as to those pupils attending schools outside Riga, if their place of residence is declared in Riga.
The pupil’s e-card was introduced when the binding regulations of Riga City Council on free public transport for pupils of Grades 1-12 took effect.
“Rīgas satiksme” reminds that a pupil entitled to the discount needs a personalised e-ticket or a pupil’s e-card. To obtain the pupil's e-card a personal identification document, a reference from school or a pupil’s certificate are required, if the pupil’s data are not included in the data base of the Riga City Council’s Department of Education, Culture and Sport (if the pupil attends a school located outside Riga).
The discount may be obtained at school, if visited by the mobile customer service centre of “Rīgas satiksme”, or at any of “Rīgas satiksme” customer service centres (Brīvības Street 191, Prāgas Street 1, Spīķeru Street 1, Brīvības Street 384b, Vienības gatve 76b, Kurzemes Avenue 137). The working hours of the customer service centres: 9.00-19.00 on workdays, 10.00-16.00 on Saturdays. The customer service centre at Spīķeru Street 1 is open on Sundays from 10.00 till 16.00.
It’s important to know that those pupils who have no personalised e-ticket or pupil’s e-card have to receive them until September 20. Until that date, they will be allowed to use Riga public transport free of charge upon presenting a valid pupil’s certificate. The e-ticket or the pupil’s e-card is to be registered immediately after getting into a vehicle, by approaching either of them to the validator. The green light signals the successful registration, but the red one means that the passenger has to go to the driver (or to the ticket vending machine in the new trams). The e-ticket or the pupil’s card shall not be folded, crumpled or otherwise damaged. In case of ticket and card control, the e-ticket or the pupil’s card shall be given into the controller’s hands. The discount is only valid in “Rīgas satiksme” buses, trams and trolleybuses. It is not valid in night transports, the Retro tram nor in the minibuses.
