Public Transport in Russia
Transportation in Moscow and St. Petersburg is generally very efficient. Other cities have, at times, non-ideal infrastructures. In Moscow and Pete, trips to the center or to a different section of town are most easily accomplished by metro (subway, tube). Other surface transport can be used for short trips between "lines," to get you to a location between stations or beyond where the metro currently services. All fare is still quite inexpensive, but if you will use a certain form of transport regularly, get a monthly pass. As a student, you are entitled to discounted monthly passes, though applying for them can be complicated. Check with the folks at your sponsoring faculty on campus for more info (see "Academic Department" in the "Important Information" section of your Campus Guide).
Another major factor to consider is that most Russian cities where SRAS programs are hosted are larger than the US cities that most of our students hail from. They also have a greater portion of the population that regularly uses public transportation, which can lead to fairly crowded conditions. Moscow is comparable only to New York in population, and St. Petersburg is roughly comparable to Los Angeles. Even "smaller" cities such as Irkutsk and Vladivostok are comparable in population to Washington, D.C.
Metro
This section really only applies to Moscow and St. Petersburg, whose metros are two of world’s most efficient public transportation systems and possess some striking art and architecture to boot. If you have a spare day, take some time to ride around and visit the stations. Other cities in Russia sometimes have metros but they are much less developed and usually have been built to service only the industrial centers of town.
In Moscow, the metro operates from approximately 5:30 am until 1:00 am. In Pete, it runs from about 6:00 am to midnight. Generally, however, it is a good idea to get on your train a half hour before closing.
Monthly passes for unlimited rides are available for about $50 in Moscow (the first time you will also need to purchase a refillable card for $2). They will be good for thirty days after the date of payment. If you will be using 60 rides or less a month, it makes more sense to purchase a card with a certain amount of rides – these come in particular increments (2, 5, 10, 20 or 60). Note that these cards (but not the unlimited monthly passes) expire at the end of the month, no matter when you purchased them. Otherwise, each ride costs about $.85 in Moscow, and $.65 in St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg does not have an unlimited option available, but you can purchase a card with 70 rides that can be used within the course of 90 days for about $47, or 70 rides that are good for one month for $32. Tickets may be purchased from kiosks at the entrances of each station. What to do with the ticket will be fairly clear, but make sure you use the ticket slots to the right of the turnstile and be sure that the light has turned from red to green. If it hasn’t and you walk through, the turnstile will give you a nasty bruise and play a loud, silly song to call attention to you while you are in pain.
The metro has certain rules of etiquette! First, there is no smoking and we strongly advise against littering, which is a finable offense. Second, when on the escalators, you stand right and walk left. People will get understandably upset if you are standing in the "fast lane." Lastly, if your train is full, the people behind you may ask you "Vy Vyhodite?" (Will you will get off at the next stop?) If you are, answer “Da.” If not, try to step aside and let them closer to the door.
The metro is the most common place to arrange to meet someone, so it pays to know each station well. It is very normal to agree to meet “at the last wagon of the train going from the center on the red line” or “the center of the platform.” Each station is constructed differently and the center of the hall is not always the best place to meet, as it may be a thoroughfare where you could get trampled during rush hour.
Timing is very easy on the Moscow metro. Allot 5 minutes per station en route, and 5-10 minutes per change of line. This system averages out well enough to nearly always be on time. St. Petersburg's is a little less regular, but you will learn soon how long it takes to get places.
There are certain phrases that you will frequently encounter on signs in the metro. If you are coming to Russia with a limited amount of Russian, here’s what some of them mean: ÂÕÎÄ Â ÌÅÒÐÎ (ENTRENCE TO METRO) – ÍÅÒ ÂÕÎÄÀ (NO ENTRANCE) ÏÅÐÅÕÎÄ ÍÀ ÊÎËÜÖÅÂÓÞ ËÈÈÍÈÞ (TRANSFER TO CIRCULAR LINE) – ÂÛÕÎÄ Â ÃÎÐÎÄ (EXIT TO CITY) ÏÅÐÅÕÎÄ ÏÐÅÊÐÀÙÀÅÒÑß Â 1 ×ÀÑ ÍÎ×È (PASSAGE CLOSES AT 1 A.M.) – Ê ÏÎÅÇÄÀÌ ÄÎ ÑÒÀÍÖÈÉ (BOARDING TO THESE STATIONS) – ÏÎÑÀÄÊÈ ÍÅÒ (NO BOARDING).
Bus, trolley, tram
While generally logical systems, surface transport in Russia can be overloaded and not in the greatest condition. If you do not have a monthly pass, you must purchase a ticket from the driver or, sometimes, the attendant (identifiable by their orange smocks). Tickets are also available at the metro and now at any street kiosk that says “proezdnye bilety” somewhere thereon. Tickets cost about $.85 in Moscow, $.65 in St. Petersburg, and slightly cheaper everywhere else.
There are three different ticket procedures, depending on which city you are in.
One: punch your ticket with one of the red thingies on the wall of the transport (you’ll know it when you see it). An un-punched ticket is not valid fare (see ticket control below).
Two: Moscow is now using "electronic conductors," transport with a turnstile at the front where you must slide your ticket, then grab your ticket when it pops back out, and walk through. You should always get on at the front of the bus.
Three: Sometimes, especially in smaller Russian towns, you will be given a very small slip of paper, torn from a roll. In this case, you do not need to punch the ticket. "Normal" tickets are tag board and about the size of a credit card. If you are uncertain what to do, just watch everyone else and follow suit.
Note: If there are different numbers on the front of the transport, the one that has been put (temporarily) in the lower right front window is the correct one.
Ticket control
If you do not have a valid ticket you are subject to a shtraf (fine) if the ticket controllers catch you. Ticket controllers enter bus, trolleys, and trams randomly at different stops. Currently the fine is only some $3.00, but it is sufficiently embarrassing and inconvenient, since they take you off the bus and make you wait for another, perhaps in really cold weather. Many students are tempted especially on buses that run short distances between, say, the metro and the university, or the dorm and the university, to not pay the fare. The controllers know this. Don’t get "shtrafed."
Scheduled taxi
A scheduled taxi (microbus) is called a marshrutnoe taxi. They service the outlying areas, suburbs, airports, as well as supplement the public bus system (they are numbered the same as the buses they duplicate). The cost ranges from about $1.00 to $3.00, depending on route length. Pay the driver when you get on. It’s a bit more expensive, but you always get a seat and it’s faster than a bus and cheaper than a taxi. The route is posted on the front and/or side window.
Regular taxi
Moscow has a system of new, yellow taxis. They are fairly pricey, so always ask the cost before getting in. If you need to get to the airport at a very early hour, it is pretty reliable to book a car with a private taxi service, which you can find in the "Business Telephone Guide" for various cities on-line.
Private cars
While we cannot officially recommend it for reasons you can imagine, most of Russia (Russians and foreigners alike) rides in private "gypsy" cars. Especially in more remote areas, it is a waste of time to expect an official taxi to wander by. If you do travel this way, please go in groups, do not sit in the front seat alone, and never get in a car that already has a passenger. Have a good sense of where you are going so that a) you stand on the correct side of the street (cheaper fare if the car is going that way anyway) and b) you are not taken for a "ride." Negotiate the price before you get in and don’t be afraid to wait for the next if the price is too high or if you feel in any way uncomfortable with the driver. Beware of cars that wait outside clubs - go to the nearest major street out of thier vision and hail a passing car.
Elektrichki
Elektrichki or commuter rails run from Moscow’s 9 train stations to locations as far as 3-4 hours away. We strongly recommend getting out of the city this way, if only for a weekend day. It gives an interesting perspective on Russian life. We have included a number of possible trips, both long and short, under the "Regions and Cities" section of our site. At the station, look for signs saying "Prigorodnie" to find the correct kassa and timetable. Always keep your ticket, as you need to produce it again to leave the station (this is to control freeloaders who try to make a return trip without paying).
Water transport
Many cities also have boats as part of their public transportation. This is usually a slow but delightfully scenic way to get around town. In St. Petersburg, boats leave from near the Hermitage on the Neva River for the Summer Palace. Canal tours can be found along several of St. Petersburg's canals, near Nevsky Prospekt. In Moscow, it is possible to see nearly the whole city (there are some 10 stops in all) via the Moskva River. Cities along the Volga all have at least a boat tour that you can signup for.
