Lazdijai launches free door-to-door electric bus service for rural residents

Lazdijai District Municipality has introduced a free on-demand electric bus service to improve rural transport access, with the model now being adopted by the Panevėžys region, reports LRT.

The initiative, named Lazdijai Veža (Lazdijai Rides), allows residents to book door-to-door trips via phone or online on weekdays. Over three years, the service has received around 18,000 booking calls, transporting over 30,000 passengers. The farthest route covers 72 km to Varviškė in Kapčiamiesčio eldership.

Three seven-seater electric minibuses operate the service, each covering roughly 100,000 km annually. Passengers like Vidas Kazlauskas, who uses the service for daily medical rehabilitation, highlight cost savings amid rising fuel prices. “It’s both cheap and fast,” he said. Others, such as Irena Zančienė, appreciate the convenience: “Regular buses run rarely and at inconvenient times, but this picks you up at home and even helps carry groceries.”

Drivers Rita Andruškevičienė and Vladimiras Samochovas note the service’s social value, often assisting elderly passengers with errands, medical visits, or food bank trips. “Some people just need someone to talk to,” Andruškevičienė said.

The project costs €6,000–7,000 monthly to maintain—a figure Lazdijai Mayor Ausma Miškinienė calls affordable. Its success has prompted Panevėžys region (including Rokiškis, Kupiškis, Pasvalys, Biržai, and Panevėžys districts) to adopt the model. Lazdijai will also expand local routes this autumn with 12 new electric buses to address gaps in scheduled services.

Resident Milda Vinogradovienė criticised existing bus schedules as “too early, too late, or at inconvenient hours,” underscoring the demand for flexible transport options.