In the capital of the Russian Federation, a reform of urban transport is underway, aimed at optimizing the communication system. Its main part is the closure of minibuses in Moscow. The Department of Transport reduced their number from 400 to 211, that is, almost twice. Authorities said that only those directions that duplicate bus routes were removed. However, on the first day, many residents of the capital criticized the reform. The closure of minibuses in Moscow, they said, created only inconvenience, and the lack of information on new directions only exacerbated the situation. The authorities are not going to put an end to innovations and assure residents that they just need to get used to the new scheme of movement of trolleybuses and buses.
The meaning of transport reform
The closure of minibuses in Moscow since August 15 is associated with the implementation of the program for improving passenger transportation. From that day, blue buses with the Moscow Transport logo appeared in the city. Many residents did not know anything about the start of the reform. At first, many did not understand where the minibuses disappeared in Moscow. Then negative reviews began to appear on the Internet. The closure of minibuses in Moscow provoked a crush in public transport. However, authorities insist that people just need to adapt to new directions of movement. Minibuses in Moscow completely disappeared in accordance with the plan of officials. In the new transport, you can pay with travel cards and take advantage of the stipulated benefits. Blue minibuses appeared in Moscow, the routes of which do not duplicate each other, as was often the case with the old system. The reform should completely eliminate illegal companies in the transportation market in the capital. This should make Moscow safer, since it was the latter who often made stops in the wrong places, violated traffic rules and refused to insure the life and health of their passengers. Many private carriers only cared about their profits. Therefore, residents should not ask: “Return the minibuses in Moscow, ” but rejoice at the establishment of a single standard. During the reform, illegal carriers were eliminated. Now routes are served only by eight companies that won the open competition. Among them:
- Avtokarz.
- Alfa Grant.
- Hepart.
- GorTaxi.
- "Taxi fleet number 20".
- TC "Rico".
- "Transautolysis".
- "Trans Way."
What happened to minibuses in Moscow
All unique business destinations have been retained. Minibuses were canceled in Moscow only if they duplicated existing flights of other carriers. Now all companies work exclusively under the state contract. Therefore, what happened to the minibuses in Moscow in the future should improve the quality of transportation and road safety. Each direction is now controlled by a special headquarters. This organization includes city departments and representatives of companies involved in transportation. The headquarters deals with the consideration of passengers' offers and the satisfaction of their requests in terms of changing routes and entering additional stops. Innovations were not introduced only in Zelenograd and New Moscow. In these two districts, carriers continue to work according to the old scheme. Bringing land transport to common standards is a task that all developing megalopolises set themselves. After the reform, Muscovites also have the opportunity to immediately distinguish the cars of legal carriers and make a choice in favor of a quality service provider.
Why were new buses needed?
After the minibuses in Moscow disappeared, officials expect that the concept itself will soon be a thing of the past. New minibuses comply with a single standard. If you look at which minibuses were canceled in Moscow, it can be noted that they did not meet the new requirements. In addition, it was impossible to pay with such city tickets as “Troika”, “90 minutes” and “Unified”. The fare for them was set by the carrier company itself. They worked without a clear schedule, and stops were made almost anywhere in violation of all kinds of traffic rules at the request of passengers. Now the situation has radically changed. The “new service model” also has on-demand stops, but they are clearly regulated. Since the reform has just begun, the business was not without errors. In most areas where there was no alternative to minibuses, new blue minibuses appeared, but there are also gaps. Another problem for Muscovites was that drivers often stopped stopping at their usual places. Also in the early days there were no signs with bus numbers. Therefore, the new reform at the initial stage earned a negative image in the eyes of ordinary people.
Requirements and standards
Minibuses were an inconvenient and unsafe mode of transport. After the reform, they were replaced by comfortable buses for 20, 40 or 85 people. After canceled minibuses in Moscow, legal carriers can easily be distinguished by the logo and blue color of their cars. The reform allowed to increase the number of passenger seats by almost a third. The state contract determines the class of vehicles on the flight. Now every bus has validators installed that allow you to pay for it with standard tickets. This will allow proud passengers to save about 30% of transportation costs. Beneficiaries will also be able to use their social cards in new minibuses. Machines of medium and large capacity are equipped with special ramps. This is another step towards improving the quality of life of people with limited mobility. Each bus has a special place for strollers and wheelchairs. The new cars are equipped with a GLONASS system, cameras, a voice notification system about stops, climate control and a screen with a running line that displays the temperature in the cabin, the time and name of the next stop. Soon, instead of wondering where the minibuses disappeared in Moscow, people will be able to check the location of any new minibus in the Yandex.Transport application.
Responsibility for Violations
The work of carriers is clearly monitored by the department. All blue minibuses in Moscow, the routes of which are clearly regulated, run on a strict schedule. For violation of the state contract, the carrier receives penalty points. At the end of the month they are summed up, and this number affects the company's remuneration. If the carrier earns 500 points in five consecutive months, the contract is terminated.
About the drivers
Carriers who have won open tenders themselves determine the requirements for hired personnel. Usually they take drivers with great experience without getting into an accident driving similar modes of transport. They also need to know the basics of the state contract governing the activities of carrier companies. Drivers of large and medium-sized buses are required to install a ramp and help people with limited mobility. They do not have the right to sell tickets while driving, to travel at a speed of more than 60 kilometers per hour and stop in unregulated places. However, in Moscow there is still a shortage of drivers, which is why one often has to be content with the personnel available.
Suburban Transportation
After we figured out which minibuses were canceled in Moscow and why this was done, the question immediately arises whether such a reform will be carried out in the regions. The Moscow region is a separate subject of the Russian Federation. At the moment, the reform does not apply to it. Therefore, for example, the minibus "Moscow-Balashikha" remains. It is logical to expect any changes, but they are a matter of joint competence of the region and the capital. Officially, nothing is known about them yet.
Reform Implementation Challenges
The transformation of the transportation system is based on concern for the safety of Muscovites. Therefore, it is difficult to argue that the idea that underlies the reform is good. But untimely and incomplete informing of passengers created a negative image of the new system in its infancy. The date of cancellation of minibuses for a long time remained unknown. The fact that on August 15, 2016 the old system will cease to exist, no one knew. This created clutter. In addition, the exact schedule in the early days could not be sustained. People were not ready for new stops and the lack of transportation in some directions. However, one must understand that this is only the initial stage of the reform. The headquarters are constantly adjusting routes and are considering introducing more convenient stops for passengers.
How many cars are left?
Since August 15, 2016, 370 routes have been closed in Moscow. As part of the reform, 63 open auctions were held. As a result, the city now serves 211 routes. Most of the unique destinations have been preserved, but there are still some gaps. This reduction in routes was achieved by eliminating flights that overlap. Intervals of movement did not increase, but the buses themselves became much more comfortable. In 2015, 520 thousand people used minibuses. About 4, 500 cars worked in the city. At the beginning of August 216 in Moscow there were 320 routes operated by private companies. Moreover, 37 of them were in Zelenograd and New Moscow, two of the district unaffected by the reform. The remaining 282 routes operate 2, 400 vehicles. The reform came into force on August 15. Blue minibuses will start driving along 208 routes. Suburban destinations will continue to be serviced according to the old scheme.
Reduce advertising in transport
The new transportation system also addresses the elimination of intrusive ads. The ban applies to advertising on the doors, windows, upper body, seats and floor of buses. Only ads on the body are allowed. In addition, drivers were banned from placing unregulated ads. The format and text of the ads is set by the Department of Transport. Drivers themselves now have no right to attach various stickers in the car in which they work. Previously, many passengers indicated the offensive nature of the latter.
Convenience of transportation
Ordinary people do not care how many minibuses are left in Moscow. It is much more interesting to them how long they will have to wait. The interval of movement of most new minibuses has not increased. It is about 15-20 minutes. However, there are directions in which the bus will have to wait half an hour.
Expected Impact of Reform
If you look at the reviews, many metropolitan residents liked minibuses in Moscow. Many say that they were much more comfortable than the new blue buses. However, in September-October, people began to gradually get used to the new system. This is evidenced by the appearance of positive reviews about her. People are happy with the new clean buses, polite drivers and the ability to use standard travel cards. Most of all are satisfied with beneficiaries, who now do not have to go down the subway or look for a suitable trolley bus or tram.
