Public transportation in Kyiv may become free: prospects and challenges

The problem of public transport fares in Kyiv is a topical issue for the city's residents, and Ruslan Kandybor, Head of the Department of Transport and Infrastructure at the Kyiv City State Administration, has announced the possibility of making public transport free of charge. According to him, the current fare of 30 hryvnias is supposed to promote the development of public transport, but in fact it faces numerous problems and challenges that make this idea easier to implement. Thus, in the future, the city may move to free travel for all passengers.

According to the official, more than half of the passengers who use public transport in Kyiv are privileged. This creates an additional burden for the city budget and makes the decision to free public transportation a more understandable one. However, the transition to free travel will require a large-scale strategy and compensation, as there is a question of financing public transport in the context of fare waivers.

Ruslan Kandybor emphasized that such a radical step would require a deep understanding and justification. There is a need to provide compensation for public transport companies that suffer losses as a result of the fare waiver. It will also be necessary to resolve the issue of replacing thousands of private minibuses with public transport, which, if free travel is introduced, will lose their profitability and, in particular, their interest in continuing to operate.

The possibility of switching to free travel in Kyiv public transport is an interesting option that has its advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, it will help reduce the financial burden on citizens and support socially vulnerable groups. On the other hand, it requires detailed planning and elimination of possible problems related to the loss of profitability for public transport and the need to provide large-scale compensation.

Making a decision to move to free travel is a complex process, and city authorities must make a balanced and informed decision that takes into account the needs of citizens, the state of public transport, and the economic impact. This issue requires careful analysis and a broad discussion with various stakeholders to reach the best solution for the development and accessibility of transportation in the capital.