Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

Well, actually just trains and automobiles. I wanted to write a little about transport in Moscow. There is of course a subway system (metro) which is quite convenient, although sometimes not the most fun to ride if it's very crowded. But it's fast and makes Moscow, which is quite spread out, seem a lot smaller. There are trains called "electrics" that connect Moscow with the outlying cities of the area, and of course regular long distance trains to connect with other cities and countries. The road system in Moscow is organized in a "wheel and spoke" system, there are three "ring roads" with the Kremlin in the center of the wheel. Like many large cities, Moscow is famous for its horrible traffic and long delays.

There is a bus system of course, and also trams. Those who ride without tickets are called "hares," as in rabbits, or what I like to translate as "jumpers." On the trams there are usually conductors, who check to make sure you have a ticket, which costs 15 Rubles (about 50 cents, although the price is going up this month). If you don't have a ticket, the fine is 100 Rubles (about $3.50). On the newer busses with automated turnstyles, in which you must insert your ticket to pass, they have signs on the window with a line crossed through a happy jumping rabbit. Although I see people just squeeze underneath the turnstyle to get through. There are also "route taxis," mini-vans which follow a set route, usually a bus route or variation thereof, which hold around 15 people. The fare is 15 Rubles, and they usually get you there a bit faster than the bus since they don't have stop as often. All public transportation stops at 1am, so if you are out late, or at any time of day simply don't want to wait for public transport, you can just stick your hand out and any number of cars will stop. You tell them the destination and negotiate a fare and away you go. If you don't like the fare or the driver (or the driver doesn't like you) you just try the next one. Very convenient.