Riga Rooster

Hear Hear !!!!! its about time, says the Rooster!


News article:
http://www.standbynews.info/7182.0.html?&tx_standbynews_pi1[showUid]=31413&cHash=7ac85694f2

“Suppress the drunken hoodlums!”
Riga mayor orders police chief to bring order to Old Riga

A drunken Brit who punched a city policeman has managed to annoy even the usually calm mayor of Riga, Janis Birks. Riga Municipal Police Chief Janis Gedusevs has been told to “bring
order in Old Riga”. "It is alarming that an increasingly large number of foreign citizens ignore any kind of limitations, disrespect the rules and have no respect for other people.

Now, by attacking a policeman, they have gone beyond all bounds," Birks said. According to research cited by this article in the Russian-language daily Vesti Segodnja, out of 2.5 million tourists who visit Riga each year, more than 270,000 come to the city with the intention to fight. Latvia has the image of a country with cheap drinks, wayward girls and impunity, the article continues.

Tourists urinating by the Freedom Monument have been punished only by fines. The author of the article suggests putting the nasty people behind bars instead.

Vesti Segodnja, 2008-06-17

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There are many new small hotels springing up all over Riga. Some are not perhaps in the most desirable locations.

As the old saying goes - Let the Buyer Beware !

One local newspaper just issued a strong statement on a new hotel South of the Central Market. A couple of days later a different newspaper issued a glowing report on the same hotel ... whimmm just wondering... yea ...

This Rooster is simply chicken when it feels the heat of the Sicilian BBQ ... so we have decided to change the wording of this POST to be as neutral as possible but still send a message of beware about of the location before you choose your hotel. 

Better to be safe than suffer the fate of the infamous DoDo bird.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodo


During the day some of these locations may be quite safe and even large shopping centers are located closeby. However after sundown and with a few too many drinks in my tummy (not thinking too fast and clear) I might be a little more worried about some of the areas outside of the central city center. 

Riding public transport can risk having your pocket picked during daylight hours; but the riders of the trams at these later hours may not be the knd of people you would want to invite into your home. This worrys me some too. So a taxi is probably recommend over a late might Tram or bus ride and for sure I would not be walking in some of these locations by myself late at night. 

There are many possible hotels in this category and I won't name them as I don't believe it is my place to do so. So as a visitor, consider the location carefully and ask a lot of questions. 

So the 100 Ls question (US$200) is do you risk something happening to save 100 Ls on a 3 night stay? Subtract 30 Ls of potential taxi fares during your stay and you are down to a 70 Ls savings over walking to a central city center hotel at a higher price.  (30 Ls for taxis  is 10  trips at 3 Ls per trip - that's 3+ trips a day for 3 days)

Oh yea, almost forgot to mention, some hotel owners have made special arrangements with taxi companies for special fares from the hotel to popular locations around the city. There is just on simple problem with these relationships and that is the GREED on the part of those involved in calling for the taxi for the client. Sometimes a different taxi company is called than the one which should be and someimes the extra fare charged to the client is shared with the person that called the taxi. 

Oh yea, another issue is how do you get back to the hotel without paying the special much higher fare of the taxi driver hailed on the local street corner  .. it's know to happen around these parts.

... be careful is all we are saying

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Today is a very sad day in Riga especially around the airport taxi queue.

The world famous for excellent customer service, relative safe driving skills and fair prices TAXI COMPANY no longer has an official dispatcher and office at the airport.

Read the positive comments on the Trip Advisor website:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/SearchForums?ff=1134&geo=274967&scope=2&q=red+taxi&returnTo=%2FShowForum-g274967-i1134-Riga.html

Since 1999, we have had an excellent relationship with the company Rigas Taxi Parks http://www.rtp.lv

Their management has be willing to build a relationship; to listen to our concerns and the concerns of clients and to make significant changes in how they operated their business; treated workers; set higher and higher expectations; improved driver safety and demanded that drivers not cheat clients.

I am sure we will never know what has really happened. But thank you Riga City Council for this funeral event today!

So in the vernacular around these parts - caveat emptor -- lie, cheat, steal, rob

Let the arriving client buyer BEWARE of taxi overcharging and unsafe drivers !

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WOW! another record for Latvia hear the cheers - ups, no that is tears.

It is clear that the best plans of the police are still not working or perhaps there is no plan?

Latvia lacks a culture of personal safety and it is a serious flaw in their leaderships' abilities.

Once again we are reminded of a tragic loss of life on Latvian soil.

Life that should NOT have been placed in harms way by the caretakers of our country.

Its all about leadership! Latvia needs to develop a culture of awareness for importance of protecting the health and safety of its citizens. Even more, each Latvian needs to develop the same awareness and desire to protect ones heath and safety.

Its all the same weather we are speaking about fire safety, safety on the roads and highways, pedestrian safety, worker safety, or the safety of our disadvantaged and our children!

Just stop and take a few minutes each day as you are going about your daily lives and pay attention to what is going on around you.

Workers cutting metal, wood and bricks without wearing safety glasses.

Bus, tram and trolley bus drivers driving with one hand while talking on a cell phone with their other hand. Or eating, or adjusting the radio, or talking with the conductor.
Vehicle drivers talking on their cell phones.

Drivers speeding on city streets sometimes several times greater than the speed limits.

Electrical wiring practices sometimes no better than third world countries.

Safety does not simply "happen"! Safety is a result of people paying attention to something important each and every minute of every day!

Safety awareness needs to be "built in" to our daily habits.

There are numerous websites, reports, and best practices on the psychology, the importance and how to accomplish safety awareness.

May I suggest that Latvia needs to put in place a Risk and Safety Czar. A person with demonstrated leadership and projected "fatherly" image. A person that will lead the way to develop practices and programs to bring about a paradigm shift in how Latvians feel about
safety.

Its time to take some serious action. Ask the Prime Minister to stop stoking the fire on his "tea kettle" politics and spend some time focusing on other basics that Latvians face in their daily life.

The Rooster is crying


RIGA, April 10 (LETA) http://www.leta.lv

108 people have died in traffic accidents in Latvia in the first three months of the year, which is 40 percent more than in the first three months of 2006, according to data from the Highway Police.

77 people were killed in traffic accidents in the first three months of 2006, and 84 in the respective period in 2005.

1,177 people sustained injuries in accidents in the past three months - a 33 percent increase over the respective period in 2006.

The largest number of fatalities in the first three months of the year were registered in Riga - 24, in Riga District - 26, in Jelgava District - seven, in Limbazi and Jekabpils district - five and four in Tukums District.

In all, 8,140 traffic accidents, including 958 with casualties, were registered in Latvia in the first three months of the year. This is 14 percent more than in the respective period of 2006.

Aija Rutka LETA

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As with any city these days, Riga is not without some issues facing visitors and in some cases locals as well.

There are several issues that are somewhat concerning and worth highlighting.

1. Pickpockets - they are good and fast and have some tricks. They have spotters at shopping centers like Stockmann and they watch you at the register and notice where you put your credit cards and wallets. They will then call by cell phone to their associate on the street and tell them about you the target. Be very careful in the under street tunnels and in crowded places.

2. Purse snatchers - have been working in the Old City and will come up behind ladies walking in the small streets. They grab the purse strap and run like crazy.

3. Taxi overcharging - avoid white and black colored taxis. They even overcharge the locals. Taxis leaving the LIDO Krasta center especially are bad.

If you can always take a RED TAXI with the number 800-1313 printed on them. Red Renault cars may be found at Hotel Reval, Hotel DeRome, Hotel Metropole and at the airport. You may call 800-1313 and order a taxi to pick you up.

4. Lithuania money SCAM - there are two versions now:

+ One - the taxi gives you change for a Latvian bill in Lithuanian money which is worth a lot less than Latvian money.

+ Two - A well dressed usually male approaches you on the street and asks for change so he can park his car. Gives you Lithuanian money in return

5. Free - drink offers in clubs - avoid these like the plague!!! It is a license to lock the door and take all you have. Can be serious trouble - BEWARE!

6. Latvia is raciest! If you are a person of color or dark oriental skin color, be very careful. Suggest you have someone with you especially at night.

There is a special hot line number that you can call if you are a victim Call: 2 - 203 - 3000

English speaking - 24 hours

The hot line will listen to complaints by tourists who have been cheated or have had crimes committed against them in clubs, restaurants and other tourism services in Latvia. Managed by the Latvian State Tourism development Agency.

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