Russia: New Metro (Subway) Rules!

Starting Oct. 11th, 2008:

Moscow has adopted new instructions for use of the metro in the city. The new rules regulate the usage of metro tickets and introduce some new obligations for passengers.

Now the passengers are obliged to show their tickets or metro cards on the request of the metro staff, who work at the self-acting check-points, the source said. It is demanded after introduction of tickets for persons entitled to benefits, because the metro authorities registered lots of cases when the benefit cards are used not only by the people, who have the right to the benefits, but also by their relatives and friends. Now it contradicts the Code on Administrative Violations. Earlier this restriction was not mentioned.

The new rules assign the free of charge pass to children less than seven years old, setting aside the previously obscure wording “preschool-age children.”

Passengers will not have to abide by the old rule of holding onto the handrail on the right side of the escalator, and walking on the left. Starting immediately, escalator workers will be managing the crowds in conditions of intensive passenger traffic. Their job will be to order commuters to access the left or right side of the escalators.

Perhaps the most stringent introduction is a ban on the private trade of metro cards. The city authorities were forced to initiate this rule because during rush hours and first days of the month, when the demand for metro cards is the greatest and the queues occasionally stretch out of the metro stations, people offer others to enter the metro using their cards for a charge, which can be lower than the official ticket cost.

This behavior falls within the purview of the Code on Administrative Violations.

Now only persons, authorized by metro authorities, have the right to sell metro cards and to let people to pass through the check points of the metro stations,” the source said.

Additionally, beggars, sellers, moneychangers, and others will be banned from the metro premises.

It is unlawful to prevent metro employees from carrying out their duties, to ignore their justifiable claims, to approach passengers [with the intent to sell them some product or service], not to follow the legitimate claims of police officers when the latter are on duty, according to the the new rules. (Link)

Windows to Russia!

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