Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko has commented on the President’s idea to introduce free travel on Kyiv’s public transport and to find a reserve of buses. In a Telegram post on 9 November, he said there is a transport reserve that could be added to routes, but there are no drivers. “Perhaps the police will round them up, like they did electricians?..,” he remarked, referring to a recent statement by Volodymyr Zelenskyy that police had taken energy workers to a site so they could restore power to buildings whose residents had blocked a road.
Klitschko said that after electric transport in Kyiv was halted, the number of bus routes increased to 129. They are served by 418 buses with 685 drivers.
Another 114 routes are covered by private operators with 680 minibuses.
“At present, Kyivpastrans municipal enterprise has the capacity to increase the number of buses by a further 25 units (technically serviceable and ready to go into service). To do this, it is necessary to deploy at least 50 additional category D drivers. Besides the fact that they must complete route training, the enterprise, due to an установлен limit, cannot reserve new drivers. I would also note that to fully replace the metro in terms of the number of passengers carried, up to 1,020 buses are needed!” he said.
Klitschko stressed that surface transport cannot ensure the metro’s regularity of service because it travels in the same traffic flow as private vehicles.
“And about the money for ‘free’ travel. Perhaps the government, before it finds money for a new idea, should first return the subsidy owed to Kyiv for 11 years for free travel for concessionary passengers? That is already more than UAH 8bn. Every year, the capital’s public transport, funded by the city budget, carries more than 1 million passengers whose concessions are ‘provided’ by the state,” said the city mayor and head of the Kyiv City State Administration.
Context
The central authorities have repeatedly criticised Kyiv’s city administration for the pace of preparing the city for winter challenges and protecting facilities from Russian strikes. In particular, Zelenskyy said he wants to create a “cabinet” of different people to help the city. Klitschko responded that the energy штаб has been operating since spring.
Yesterday, the President said he had instructed the Prime Minister to prepare a programme for free travel in Kyiv and a reserve of buses.
Due to the worsening situation in the energy sector, Kyiv has completely halted tram and trolleybus services. This step was also taken this winter. Buses are being deployed on routes instead.