Homeless and drunks banned in Moscow metro upgrade
Published 09 October, 2008, 05:19
Moscow's famous metro system has banned homeless people and drunks as part of sweeping reforms to modernise it. One of the world's largest public transport systems, it’s also aiming to improve access for disabled people and bring more order to the bustling underground world.
At rush hour, the metro is a war of pushing and shoving, edging slowly forward in a sea of people.
But this doesn’t put off millions of Muscovites, who travel underground everyday. Like everything, it needs rules – but the latest ones have been causing quite a stir.
Homeless people and beggars who seek refuge in the warmth of the metro are now banned.
There’ll be no chance to cut the queues and buy tickets on the street. Only those from official workers are valid.
And there will also be a ban on passengers drinking alcohol or buying anything from vendors inside the metro
“The purpose of all rules is to bring more order into passengers’ behaviour and maintain more control on the territory of the metro. It’s more correct to use the word ”reason“ here, instead of ”aim“. The reason is that life has changed,” said Dmitriy Golovin, Head of the Metropolitan Press-Service Office.
But this change isn’t all about making restrictions – it also plans to modernise the metro.
Although a staggering seven million use the metro everyday a large part of society has always been excluded – people with disabilities. Out of nearly 200 stations, only 8 have any sort of provision, something the government now says it plans to change.
But as Julia Shchukina knows, it will take some serious commitment to make using the metro easier for disabled people.
“It’s pretty hard for someone using a wheelchair to move around Moscow. I can’t use the metro very often. Usually, I am accompanied by someone, but when I’m alone, I simply drive to a station entrance and ask someone for help,” she said.
This isn’t a problem unique to the Russian capital though. Rather it’s one facing metro systems worldwide.
The Moscow stations date back to the early 1930s where the focus was on slender and exquisite design.
So making modern amendments is a lengthy and costly job – but one which Moscow says it is planning to achieve.
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