People move from one place to another.  As elsewhere in the world, the method of movement will be contingent upon what is available and how far one intends to move.  Earlier visitors to Russia commented about the increased number of private automobiles in Moscow.

An estimated 9 million people in Moscow will be moved each day by the extensive subway system:  Moscow Metro.  Moscow is blessed with having one of the better subway systems in the world.  Background about the Moscow Metro.

It is said that one can travel to any part of Moscow using the subway system.  The middle image above shows the routes of the subway.  Living where we were, we became very acquainted with the "red line."  The trains come and go very quickly--- every two minutes on the red line.  Rarely is there any time waiting. 

The subway system is a marvel of Soviet-Russian engineering.  It was started in the 1930's and was intended to be a showcase of the marvels of the Russian worker.  The system has over 160 stations.

Building the metro system.

Moscow Metro: The Underground Dream

As a system of public transportation and a work of urban infrastructure, the Moscow Metro is an unparalleled example of architecture and design. The most grandiose architectural phenomenon of the Stalinist era, the vast system maps not only the huge ambitions of the Soviet State under Stalin, but records in amazing detail the ideological and artistic shifts that characterize the period. The historical photographs and contemporary documentation on this website illustrate not only the evolution of a rapid mass transit, but also the remarkable attention paid to aesthetic media -- architecture, sculpture, painting and decorative arts -- in a monumental public works project.

Residents recently became very angry when the cost for riding the metro was raised--- the current is 30 American cents.  One can ride all day on the same 30 cents [unless an exit is made from the subway system.]  What is the cost of riding any mass transit systems in the US?

"Although constructed by a tyrant for a people living in terror, this subterranean proletarian paradise offers an ironically humane vision of public social space, both beautiful and functional. Today, with construction continuing, the Moscow Metro covers over 200 kilometers of track and serves 9 million people each day."

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The Moscow Metro had a practical use:  movement of people.  It also provided a daily reminder to the people of the new regime that came to power in 1917.  The mosaics are heavy in presenting to the people of Moscow the "workers revolution" that was made possible by Lenin, Stalin and Trotsky.  Above on the right is the image of Trotsky-- one of the original revolutionaries but one who was ex-communicated by Stalin.  In the early 1940's Mr. Trotsky was living n Mexico.  He met a quick death when a pick-ax was hit his head.  With the death of Trotsky Stalin was the only one of the early leaders still alive.

Unfortunately, the Moscow Metro has been selected by freedom fighters or terrorists -- CHECHEN -- as a way to call attention to the fighting in C.  In February 2004 a suicide bomber and 34 people died when a bomb was detonated in a metro car.

Traveling to St. Petersburg

Russian Rail System.  Travel to St. Petersburg was done by the Russian rail system.  With the exception of mass transit systems on the American east and west coasts, the US does not have a passenger rail system that equals Russia.

Our travel was done at night so as to avoid losing a day of site-seeing.  For many of the Americans the travel by train was a unique experience. While many would have liked to see the country side between Moscow and St. Petersburg, the travel times probably were the best.  Any number of times were available for the journey--

Costs 2nd class Moscow to St Petersburg.  The journey is approximately six hours and will cost $80.  Travelers are assigned to a four person compartment that converts at night to sleeping quarters.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.  The listed cost for the ticket is $80. The ticket office merely assigns people to a compartment based upon when the ticket is purchased.  Our group had a shortage of females:  3 instead of 4.  Consequently a male was assigned to sleep with three women.  One of these people expressed a major concern about sleeping in a compartment with a male.  When in Rome do as the Romans do

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Personal Auto Travel  

The Moscow News Overview of the Russian manufacturing of the private automobile.

While a private auto in Russia is very expensive for those who have a minimal wage, several people talked about the greater number of personal cars as compared to several years earlier.

The change on the streets are difficult to comprehend for a "Rip van Winkle."

 Gradually the shift has been made from producing vehicles for the military to  cars for the people. 

Add to the above, some people in Russia are very wealthy.  These are the owners of the very expensive European and North American vehicles.

Moscow was not designed to accommodate the great number of cars that are now on the streets.   Finding a parking place is virtually impossible.  So, even though Moscow has an ordinance banning parking on the sidewalk, it people by necessity will park on the sidewalk.  Notice where the cars are parked.

  What do the two "buildings" to the right look like?  Without to much imagination one can see that these are the Moscow "car garages."  Next to all of the apartment houses will be what is used as a car garage.  There does not seem to be any zoning restrictions or do's and don't for the building of a garage.  As with garages in North America, the garage has two purposes:  protect the car from the rain and snow plus protect the car from theft.

 Return to Russia Pages

Note:  the series of webpages that present Russia in the spring of 2004 are not copyrighted.

If you find a photo that is useful to you, do the wipe, copy, paste technique.

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