During the third quarter of 2023, Russian residents leaned toward bus travel and private cars, with taxi use declining. This trend comes from a Russian Standard study cited by TASS, reflecting evolving travel preferences as domestic tourism grows.
Bus travel stood out as the most popular mode of transport. As domestic tourism expands, interest in trips on urban, intercity, and suburban routes remains robust. In the third quarter, the share of bus payments in total card transactions rose to 44 percent compared with the second quarter, according to Russian Standard.
Taxi usage decreased over the same period. The proportion of taxi trips was 17 percent in July–September, down from 19 percent in April–June. At the same time, the average cost of a taxi ride climbed to 462 rubles, up from 402 rubles in the second quarter.
Earlier, Irina Zaripova, head of the Public Council for Taxi Development, suggested that the average taxi fare in Russia could grow by 7–10 percent in 2024. The expert pointed to multiple factors driving this potential rise, including higher car prices, increased maintenance costs, a surge in fuel prices, and higher insurance costs. A driver shortage was also cited as a contributing factor.
Additionally, there have been discussions at the State Duma about imposing fines for taxi parking in courtyards, which could influence taxi usage patterns in urban areas.