Technological obstacles to free travel

Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva has referred the matter to the Ministry of Transport following reports that children under 14 are being forced to pay for tickets or are even being removed from public transport when traveling in a municipality other than the one where their electronic cards were issued.

"Depriving a child of the right to transport due to software or address discrepancies is a direct infringement of their interests and social rights," Delcheva emphasizes.

Main problems:

  • Technological incompatibility: Validators in one municipality do not recognize electronic cards issued by another.
  • Administrative barriers: Parents are often forced to obtain additional cards, despite the existence of a state-standardized template.
  • Stress for children: Conflict situations leading to forced removal from vehicles.

Ombudsman's recommendations:

  • Creation of national standards for electronic cards that are recognized across the entire country.
  • Prohibition of requiring local documents if the child already possesses a card according to the state-standardized template.
  • Increased oversight by the Executive Agency "Automobile Administration" over municipal carriers.