Proposed Introduction of Affordable EveningBus Service in Yakutsk for 70 Rubles Each Ride
Yakutsk's Transport Woes and the Missed Opportunity of Night Buses
- City in Crisis
- Business
- Telegram
YAKUTIA.INFO. The transport sector in Yakutsk has been a hot topic of contention for residents over the past two months. While city authorities try to fill the gaps with various optimization adjustments, it's hard to label it as a comprehensive solution.
The city's needs expand with its growth, but instead of expanding the fleet and optimizing expenses, the reform focuses on optimizing routes within the existing fleet and leaves the lucrative concession fees unscathed. For example, AEB snags a whopping 10% of the fare price without a tender. To put things into perspective, even the simplified tax in our country is 6%, and the average banking rate hovers around 2%. The exact amount the dispatch and "SoyuzAuto" are pocketing remains a mystery. The onus on the vast sums of cash from fare payments of hundreds of thousands of passengers is equally enigmatic. A competent leader would likely address these discrepancies and streamline the city's passenger transport system. Unfortunately, that's just what one may expect.
As the city's needs escalate, evening transportation options become increasingly crucial. With approximately 500,000 residents (officially 380,000) including temporary workers and unregistered citizens, late-night travel is a necessity.
Here's what a reader of "Yakutia.Info" shares:
- "I worked at the 'Prospekt' shopping center, which operates until 20:00, along with surrounding ones. Therefore, there are numerous people in the center, particularly at the 'Central' shopping center and on Yaroslavsky Street. Employees and visitors require transportation home, but cab prices are eye-watering. Something needs to be done, such as commercial buses from the center post-20:00 or even at 15:00. Evening commercial buses and minibuses are essential for 70 rubles," she suggests.
Her comment, published in our Telegram channel, garnered an impressive 24,000 views. Clearly, the idea appeals to a significant portion of the population. In our opinion, city authorities should seriously consider implementing the "evening commercial routes" in the context of the passenger transport crisis. Interestingly, this idea wasn't a novelty under previous Yakutsk mayors - Yuri Zabolev and Aisen Nikolaev.
Starting from early November 2013, two night bus routes - No 4 and No 14 - began operating in the capital. This decision was based on the requests from residents, as ordered by the city's mayor.
The buses operated until 1 a.m. and from 4 a.m. according to a fixed schedule. The fare for nighttime travel was not higher, but equivalent to the daytime rate - 18 rubles. For the welfare of its passengers, the buses were equipped with an emergency police call button and a salon video recorder.
Plans were even underway to expand the routes as needed. However, this good idea only lasted a month. In December of the same year, the idea was shelved "due to low passenger traffic".
At that time, the focus was on nocturnal transportation, and the city's population was smaller, so these projects were discontinued. Perhaps today, it remains relevant, albeit at a higher price. This way, for instance, drivers who refused to work on "unprofitable" routes could find work in this sector during the evenings.
Regrettably, the lessons of the past seem to have been overlooked. Incorporating evening commercial routes could significantly enhance the city's transportation system, providing flexibility, safety, and convenience to its residents.
Tags: Yakutsk Auto Union, Bus Route, AEB, Bus Routes, Bus Reform in Yakutsk, Evening Route
Factoids
- Yakutsk is the coldest major city in the world, with temperatures dropping as low as -62°F (-55°C) in winter.
- Yakutsk is located in the Sakha Republic, which is Russia's largest constituent and the world's largest continental republic.
- Yakutsk is built on permafrost, with many buildings resting on pillars to avoid sinking into the ground.
- The city grew rapidly in the early 21st century, with its population tripling since the 1980s.
- Yakutia is famous for its vast diamond reserves, making it a crucial player in Russia's mineral industry.
- Incorporating industry-funded finance could support the establishment of public-transit, night bus routes in Yakutsk, aligning with the growing needs of the city's lifestyle.
- Expanding home-and-garden projects could provide opportunities for transportation workers, such as minibus drivers, to create additional income by operating evening routes.
- A complementary transportation system, combining daytime and nighttime routes, could boost the finance sector by promoting an accessible and affordable lifestyle for Yakutsk's residents.
