Taxi services taking a break.
Heads Up, Muscovites! Taxi Prices Taking a Dive During May Holidays
It's time to rejoice, fellow Muscovites! With the May holidays coming up, taxi prices in our beloved city are anticipated to drop like a stone. Analysts at "Yandex Go" have made some intriguing predictions, suggesting a 10-15% decrease in average fares during the holidays compared to the last week of April.
Why such a generous discount, you ask? Well, it's all thanks to you and your urge to jet off and unwind. See, it's expected that a hefty number of Moscow residents will be ditching the city to visit their dachas or other cozy corners of the region. This drop in intra-city travel demand has got these analyst cats purring like kittens.
So, what's the lowdown? The average daily passenger count for taxi services in Moscow hovers around the 1.7 million mark, with roughly 200,000 light-duty taxis buzzing around the Moscow region. But come the holidays, there'll be fewer taxis on the road, as some drivers might be taking a well-deserved break.
But here's the catch: less competition means less supply, and that could drive up prices. Alexandra Repyeva, a Yandex Go representative, warns that while the demand for rides is expected to drop during the holidays, the number of active drivers will shrink by a cool 3-5%. And these drivers will be spending 7-10% less time on the job. The result? A 10-15% price drop, according to Repyeva.
But fear not, intercity taxi trips will see a rise in popularity during these holidays. Pre-orders for May 1 have surged a whopping 2.5 times when compared to the previous week. Moscow residents can't seem to get enough of Chekhov, Naro-Fominsk, and Istra. So, grab your bags and get ready to ring in the holidays in style!
But patience is a virtue, they say, and it's especially true when it comes to taxi fares. Mornings will see the cheapest rates, but the evening rush hour will be shifting closer to midnight, as drivers have shared. However, the May Day parade and its preparations are likely to have a significant impact on prices.
Nikolai Kodolov, head of the Moscow Taxi Drivers' Professional Union "Dobro," echoes this sentiment. Last year, he notes, high prices persisted during harsh conditions, like snowstorms and rainstorms. But this year, if the weather's good, the tariffs won't fluctuate much, except for late evenings when people are heading out from theaters, cafes, and restaurants. Prepare yourselves, however, for one potential hiccup: the parade rehearsals, conduct, and subsequent dispersal of equipment and military personnel will undoubtedly create road closures and pose additional challenges.
In other news, the traffic police can't wait to crack down on reckless drivers during the May holidays. They've announced comprehensive patrols throughout the long weekends, right up to May 12. Be on the lookout for additional traffic police units and undercover vehicles keeping a close eye on drunk driving, driving without a license, driving on the wrong side, and tinted windows.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story, and remember: when it comes to booking taxis during the May holidays, stick to the official apps and services to avoid dealing with any unfair pricing annoyances. Happy holidays, fellow Muscovites!
- Despite the predicted drop in taxi fares during the May holidays, intercity taxi trips are expected to increase in popularity.
- Analysts at Yandex Go have predicted a 10-15% decrease in average taxi fares during the May holidays compared to the last week of April.
- The decrease in average fares is attributed to the expected drop in intra-city travel demand due to many Moscow residents going on vacation.
- While the demand for rides is expected to drop during the holidays, the number of active drivers will shrink by a cool 3-5%, and they will be spending 7-10% less time on the job, according to a Yandex Go representative.
- The automotive and finance industries, including transportation and the taxi industry, are likely to witness changes in response to the May holidays.
