In a striking contrast to their European Union counterparts, Bulgarians demonstrate a marked preference for intercity bus travel.
According to a recent Eurobarometer study presented by the European Commission, 42 percent of Bulgarians choose intercity buses as their primary mode of transportation, compared to just 14 percent of residents in other EU countries.
This disparity highlights a significant difference in transportation habits between Bulgaria and the broader EU.
While Bulgarians heavily favor buses for intercity travel, only 16 percent opt for trains, far below the 33 percent of EU respondents who use rail services.
Additionally, air travel is less common in Bulgaria, with 16 percent of Bulgarians flying compared to 23 percent of other Europeans.
The study sheds light on urban transportation preferences as well. In EU cities, public transport usage stands at 52 percent, slightly higher than in Bulgaria, where 47 percent of city dwellers utilize public transport.
This slight difference indicates that while public transportation is vital in Bulgarian urban areas, it is still underutilized compared to the rest of the EU.
A notable finding of the study is the widespread lack of awareness regarding passenger rights.
In Bulgaria, 60 percent of respondents reported never having encountered information about their rights as passengers, a figure only slightly lower than the 63 percent reported across the EU.
Despite this lack of awareness, a significant majority of Bulgarians (85 percent) and EU citizens (70 percent) have not faced issues while traveling by train in the past year.
The tendency to avoid formal complaints is another commonality among Europeans. The study revealed that 73 percent of Bulgarians and 69 percent of EU residents do not file formal complaints when encountering problems with public transport.
This reluctance to seek redress underscores a broader issue of public trust and satisfaction with transportation services.
In response to these findings, the European Commission has introduced new guidelines aimed at ensuring the uniform application of passenger rights across the EU.
These measures are designed to harmonize the enforcement of passenger rights legislation, with national authorities tasked with overseeing compliance.
Violeta Bulc, the European Commissioner for Transport, emphasized the importance of these new guidelines in enhancing passenger protection.
“Our aim is to ensure that all EU citizens can travel with confidence, knowing their rights are protected and enforced uniformly across member states,” Bulc stated.
The Commission’s initiative includes efforts to improve awareness and understanding of passenger rights, targeting both travelers and transport providers.
By enhancing information dissemination and compliance monitoring, the Commission hopes to address the significant gaps highlighted by the Eurobarometer study.
As Bulgaria continues to develop its transportation infrastructure, the findings of this study may prompt policymakers to address the apparent preference for bus travel and the underutilization of trains and planes.
By fostering greater awareness of passenger rights and enhancing the quality of transport services, Bulgaria can work towards aligning its transportation habits with broader EU trends, ultimately benefiting its citizens and the economy.