Klitschko on free public transport in Kyiv: We have buses, but no drivers

Free travel in Kyiv: Klitschko responds to Zelenskyy

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko commented on President Zelenskyy’s proposal to make public transport free in Kyiv.

The mayor posted his response on Telegram, Censor.NET reports.

Details

"The president instructed the prime minister to present a program for free travel (which means finding the money for it too, right?) and to find extra buses.

"I’ll start with the buses. Kyiv has buses it can put into service. There are no drivers! Maybe the police will round them up, just like the electricians?" Klitschko said.

Klitschko said Kyiv had increased the number of routes to 129 today while electric public transport was out of service.

"There are 418 buses running on those routes, with 685 drivers. Private operators serve another 114 routes. That’s 680 minibuses.

"Right now, the municipal operator ‘Kyivpastrans’ can put another 25 buses into service (all roadworthy and ready to run)," the mayor explained.

Klitschko said this would require at least 50 additional drivers with Category D licenses. The drivers would need on-the-job training on the routes, and the operator cannot secure mobilization exemptions for new drivers because of the quota in place.

"I should also point out that it would take up to 1,020 buses to carry as many passengers as the metro! And obviously, surface transport can’t match the regularity of metro services. It runs on city streets and shares the road with private vehicles.

"Now, about the money for these ‘free’ rides. Before finding money for a new idea, perhaps the government should first pay Kyiv the subsidies it has owed the city for 11 years for carrying passengers entitled to free travel. That’s already more than UAH 8 billion. Every year, the capital’s public transport carries more than 1 million passengers whose travel benefits the state ‘provides,’ with the city budget footing the bill.

"In short, the central government dealt with Kyiv’s resilience plan by successfully blocking it for six months. Now it’s turned its attention to public transport..." the mayor concluded.