Social media post describes rude treatment of a foreigner by Rīgas Satiksme employee

A Threads user named Dace described an incident she witnessed on tram route No. 1 in Riga. According to her account, the tram driver stepped out of her cabin and shouted at a foreign passenger who was trying to buy a ticket from the onboard machine, demanding to see a disability certificate instead of asking whether he needed help. Dace also noted that no English-language information was visible near the stop to help foreigners understand the ticket-purchasing process, and that tickets have not been sold directly on trams for several years already.

According to Dace, the incident took place at the Grēcinieku Street stop between 9:15 and 10:00 a.m., as the tram travelled toward Jugla.

Other passengers share their experiences

Several users responded with their own stories. Iveta described an opposite situation on the same route, where a tram driver willingly stepped out to help a passenger with a disability print a free ticket and explained how to use the machine. Other commenters, including one named Krietīne, agreed that the ticket machines are confusing even for Latvian residents, and the lack of English information makes things harder for foreign visitors.

A more troubling account came from a user named Marina, who said that as an orphan she had faced aggressive behavior from Rīgas Satiksme staff several times regarding her fare-exemption status, which left her with lasting discomfort about using public transport. Another user, Ieva, recalled being shouted at by a trolleybus driver while crossing with a stroller, even though she had the right of way.

Company response

Representatives of Rīgas Satiksme responded in the discussion, stating that such communication is unacceptable and that the information had been passed on to colleagues in the tram operations department as a reminder about the importance of polite and helpful service. The company asked Dace to specify the time and location of the incident, which she then provided.