He argued that the legislation could have resulted in the closure of some routes.
"I will not sign a bill that, instead of improving local transport, could lead to the closure of further connections," Nawrocki said in a video published on Thursday.
"I expect the government to provide a simple and effective solution: stable financing, a strong role for municipalities, and accessible transport for residents of small towns and rural Poland," he added.
His office recalled that the president vetoed similar legislation in November last year, when the government proposed shortening the duration of transport contracts from 10 to three years.
In a statement, the office said the president believes that without stable financing, carriers and local governments will not invest in new buses or responsibly plan transport networks.
In Thursday’s announcement, the Polish President's Office also said that the vetoed bill contained similar provisions, as contracts were to last a maximum of five years.
"It is difficult to expect a local bus company or an entrepreneur to invest millions if they do not know whether they will still have a contract in a few years," the president said, as quoted by his office.
He also pointed to a second issue affecting local governments: "They are closest to residents and know best where buses are needed. Meanwhile, the bill moves them to the back of the queue for funding,” the office stated.
According to Nawrocki, “small towns and rural Poland stand to lose the most from this.”
The president also expressed serious reservations about replacing regular bus services with so‑called "on‑demand rides" using passenger cars, noting that such services do not offer statutory discounts for seniors, students or people with disabilities.
"This is not a solution to combat transport exclusion," Nawrocki said, as quoted in the announcement.
The legislation required organizers to ensure connectivity between key administrative centers at three levels: provincial connections between the regional capital and district headquarters; district connections between district headquarters and municipalities; and municipal connections ensuring access to towns with public facilities.
On weekdays, at least four pairs of connections were required, and on weekends at least two.
The regulations also introduced a definition of on‑demand transport as a flexible form of transport provided by passenger car (up to nine passengers, including the driver).
This solution was intended for rural and depopulating areas where regular bus lines are economically inefficient.
Additionally, the bill sought to extend the legal protection afforded to public officials to ticket inspectors, aiming to improve their safety at work.
(pu)
Source: PAP