The “Mobilní pošta,” a mobile post office service provided by Česká pošta, has encountered a notable lack of interest from residents in the rural villages of Silesia. Since early October, Erika Kociánová has been visiting the villages of Krásná, Horní Domaslavice, Dolní Tošanovice, and Vojkovice in the Frýdek-Místek region on a daily basis. However, the number of people served in the past three weeks has fallen significantly short of expectations.

The mobile post office has struggled to attract the villagers, with only a handful of individuals showing up in Dolní Tošanovice. The reasons behind this disinterest remain unclear, but it appears that the unique vehicle used by the mobile post office garnered more attention from local cats than human residents.

According to Eva, an 83-year-old resident of Vojkovice, most people in the area have been using other post offices for years. The local post office, once situated at the municipal office, was closed down long ago. Eva only learned about the mobile post office’s visits recently, thanks to a journalist from Právo. However, she personally has no need for the service, as her grandson handles her mail and any associated expenses.

The closure of the local post office in Vojkovice dates back to the mid-1990s. Since then, residents have been traveling to Dobrá and Dobratice for postal services. Mayor Petr Tesarčík expressed his disappointment with the limited range of services provided by the mobile post office and questioned the purpose of the project and its prospects for the future.

The mobile post office operated by Česká pošta offers a limited range of services, including parcel sending, postal money orders, SIPO services, stamp purchases, phone cards, and printing. It serves as a substitute for physical branches in areas where they are not available. The selection of villages for the mobile post office was based on various criteria, including the availability of mobile and internet coverage.

Despite the challenges faced by the mobile post office, Pavel Blabla, the mayor of Dolní Tošanovice, believes it to be a valuable project. He stressed the importance of local residents adapting to this new service. The low turnout at the mobile post office is a well-known fact for Česká pošta. The majority of customers are seniors or mothers on maternity leave, according to spokesperson Ivo Vysoudil.

However, the future of the mobile post office in these villages is uncertain. The service is slated to be available for only three months, concluding on December 22nd, before moving on to another region. Whether the villagers will become accustomed to and embrace this service remains unknown. For some, the discontinuation of the mobile post office may come as a disappointment.

Article by Prague Forum