Visiting Russia. Part III
Part III. Getting around Moscow.
Oct 28, 2001
Moscow is a huge and sprawling city organized in a set of concentric circles with the Kremlin at the center. The inner ring-road is called the Boulevard Ring, the middle ring is called the Garden Ring, and the outer city limits are marked by the ring road abbreviated as "MKAD."
Moscow offers many ways to move its 11 million residents plus visitors around town. Most Muscovites travel by metro, which, with its over 200 stations, is the world's largest subway. Locals also take busses, trolley busses, trams and electric trains.
Over the past few years, automobile traffic has increased enormously, causing serious traffic problems, especially in the center of town. There are also taxi services available, which you can order ahead of time or flag down on the street. Official taxis, however, are in short supply, and they compete with private car owners who pick up riders who flag them down in the street and agree on a price for a ride to a particular destination. This "gypsy" cab system is used by Russians and foreigners. You should use extreme caution when traveling by car in this manner, particularly at night. It is not advisable to accept a ride in a car with passengers.
Taxis: If you are staying in a hotel, they can order a taxi for you. Other recommended taxi services are:
Avtofun: 280-3600
Excellence: 145-6515
Innis: 230-6160
Olga: 927-6972
Rolf: 241-5393
Metro: The Moscow metro is extremely efficient and clean. Over two million passengers a day ride the metro, and at rush hour the trains come less than every 60 seconds. Monthly passes may be purchased for unlimited metro travel (cost is around $16) or passes for a specific number of rides (1, 2, 5, 10 or 20) can be purchased at each station (cost is around $.15/ride). You can also buy monthly transportation passes that allow unlimited travel throughout Moscow on all forms of public transportation. (cost is around $10).
Signs in the metro are only in Russian. The stations and directions to transfer are clearly marked, so if you can follow Russian letters and know some simple words like "Exit to Town" and "Entrance" you can navigate throughout the metro comfortably.
Metro maps can be purchased at bookstores and kiosks throughout the city. They are very handy if you will be taking the metro.
Busses, trolleybusses, and trams. These modes of transportation typically connect neighborhoods to the metro stations, and also shuttle people within their own neighborhoods. The buses and trams are very reliable, although sometimes you may have to wait a little while for your bus or trams to arrive, especially in the late evenings or on weekends. They also tend to be very crowded. Tickets are the form of payment, and you punch your ticket with a device near the doors and windows once on board using the honor system. Sometimes the police will check for your pass or punched ticket, and they will fine you if you haven't paid. You can buy tickets at any metro or from the bus driver. They cost 5 rubles (around $.15). Useful trolleybuses are the "B" and number "10," both of which go around the Garden Ring road. However, unless you know which bus you need, it is probably easier to use the metro.
Reprinted by the courtesy of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia
Moscow offers many ways to move its 11 million residents plus visitors around town. Most Muscovites travel by metro, which, with its over 200 stations, is the world's largest subway. Locals also take busses, trolley busses, trams and electric trains.
Over the past few years, automobile traffic has increased enormously, causing serious traffic problems, especially in the center of town. There are also taxi services available, which you can order ahead of time or flag down on the street. Official taxis, however, are in short supply, and they compete with private car owners who pick up riders who flag them down in the street and agree on a price for a ride to a particular destination. This "gypsy" cab system is used by Russians and foreigners. You should use extreme caution when traveling by car in this manner, particularly at night. It is not advisable to accept a ride in a car with passengers.
Taxis: If you are staying in a hotel, they can order a taxi for you. Other recommended taxi services are:
Avtofun: 280-3600
Excellence: 145-6515
Innis: 230-6160
Olga: 927-6972
Rolf: 241-5393
Metro: The Moscow metro is extremely efficient and clean. Over two million passengers a day ride the metro, and at rush hour the trains come less than every 60 seconds. Monthly passes may be purchased for unlimited metro travel (cost is around $16) or passes for a specific number of rides (1, 2, 5, 10 or 20) can be purchased at each station (cost is around $.15/ride). You can also buy monthly transportation passes that allow unlimited travel throughout Moscow on all forms of public transportation. (cost is around $10).
Signs in the metro are only in Russian. The stations and directions to transfer are clearly marked, so if you can follow Russian letters and know some simple words like "Exit to Town" and "Entrance" you can navigate throughout the metro comfortably.
Metro maps can be purchased at bookstores and kiosks throughout the city. They are very handy if you will be taking the metro.
Busses, trolleybusses, and trams. These modes of transportation typically connect neighborhoods to the metro stations, and also shuttle people within their own neighborhoods. The buses and trams are very reliable, although sometimes you may have to wait a little while for your bus or trams to arrive, especially in the late evenings or on weekends. They also tend to be very crowded. Tickets are the form of payment, and you punch your ticket with a device near the doors and windows once on board using the honor system. Sometimes the police will check for your pass or punched ticket, and they will fine you if you haven't paid. You can buy tickets at any metro or from the bus driver. They cost 5 rubles (around $.15). Useful trolleybuses are the "B" and number "10," both of which go around the Garden Ring road. However, unless you know which bus you need, it is probably easier to use the metro.
Reprinted by the courtesy of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia