For some of the students, the taxi did not arrive or did not arrive on time on Monday and Tuesday.
Public transport in the regions of Beverwijk, Bloemendaal, Haarlem, Haarlemmermeer, Heemskerk, Heemstede, Velsen and Zandvoort, which is owned by RegioRijder, is in the spotlight this week due to a series of complaints about unreliable services. RegioRijder, responsible for the transport of school children and people dependent on the Social Support Act (Wmo), appears to be experiencing serious operational problems.
According to NH News an important cause of the current problems appears to be the introduction of a new planning system. Since the beginning of this year, RegioRijder's planning has been taken over by QR, a partnership between Qarine and RMC. However, this transition has been far from smooth, leaving many users of the service seriously affected.
A striking example is the situation of eight-year-old Daniek from Heemstede, who uses RegioRijder every day to go to a special education school in Hillegom. Rob Wtenweerde describes the problems her father explains about the irregularities in transport since the change in planning: “At the beginning of this school year, a permanent driver came every day. But now that there is a new planner, things often go wrong.” This situation is representative of many families who depend on RegioRijder for essential transportation.
A spokesperson for Alderman Charlotte van der Meij (D66) of the municipality of Haarlemmermeer acknowledges the problems and apologizes on behalf of the municipality for the inconvenience. The spokesperson emphasizes the importance that both the municipality of Haarlemmermeer and the municipalities of Haarlem and Velsen attach to a reliable transport system.
apologies
In addition to problems with planning, other issues are also mentioned, such as the poor telephone accessibility of RegioRijder and problems with their special app. An additional factor that worsens the situation is an acute staff shortage. This shortage not only leads to longer waiting times at customer service, but also to delays and cancellations of trips.
For some of the students, the taxi did not arrive or did not arrive on time on Monday and Tuesday.
RegionRider recognizes the problems and has taken steps to address them, including hiring more staff. Nevertheless, the situation remains frustrating for many residents of the municipalities concerned, as the dependence on this transport is high, especially for people with disabilities and students.
At a time when reliability and consistency of public transport are crucial, this situation sheds light on the complexity and fragility of such services. It is clear that a solution to the current problems at RegioRijder is not only essential for the people directly affected, but is also important for general confidence in public transport systems. RegioRijder provides Wmo transport for residents of the municipalities of Beverwijk, Bloemendaal, Haarlem, Haarlemmermeer, Heemskerk, Heemstede, Velsen and Zandvoort.
