Lawmakers in Odessa demanded an explanation for the increase in minibus fares

The owners of transportation companies operating public transit routes in Odesa have reached an agreement with the Department of Transportation, Communications, and Traffic Management to raise fares by five hryvnias—that is, to 25 hryvnias—effective June 27.

As Sergey Shcherban, acting director of the Department of Transportation, reported during a meeting of the Odessa City Council’s Standing Committee on Transportation and Road Infrastructure, the transportation companies provided the department with a justification for the fare increase, in which they insisted that fares on Odessa minibuses should range from 32 to 40 hryvnias. 

“We agreed that they would raise the fare by only five hryvnias,” the official stated.

However, Petro Obukhov, a member of the Odessa City Council and chairman of the committee, stated that council members would also like to review these justifications.

“We understand that fuel prices have indeed risen, but in order to determine whether these justifications are valid, we need to understand their passenger volume, fare discounts, and expenses—to see if fuel costs really have such a significant impact on their profits. We’d like to see this, but they handle everything in cash,” the council member noted.

Deputy Oleksiy Osauhlenko, in turn, asked whether it would be possible, in connection with the fare increase, to require transport operators to improve the condition of their buses.

“It would be fair that if the city approves a fare increase, it should require something in return—that they also take action,” the deputy emphasized.

Serhiy Shcherban recalled that during discussions with the carriers about the fare increase, at least one of them promised to introduce large buses on the route for people with disabilities. 

“I am confident that they will also back up their words with actions,” the department director noted. 

However, Oleksiy Osauhlenko recalled that in 2023, city council members inspected city routes for accessibility, and at that time, all transport operators promised that one bus equipped for the needs of people with disabilities would run on each of their routes, but the carriers did not keep their word.  

“At the last bus exhibition, we saw 10 large buses and 10 small ones, but we have over 40 routes. Moreover, even the small buses aren’t equipped with ramps—in my opinion, they aren’t inclusive, because when those minibuses are packed with people, it’s impossible to imagine a person in a wheelchair getting on board. Transport operators are deceiving the city—they provide substandard transportation and fail to fulfill their contractual obligations,” the council member stated.

He also emphasized that at the exhibition, the carriers showcased accessible buses that ultimately never leave the garage because they consume too much fuel.  

“The transit operators themselves say they don’t put those buses on the routes. So they think they can deceive us, and we’re okay with that? That shouldn’t be the case,” the council member noted.

Serhiy Shcherban refuted this, stating that 54 accessible buses are in operation on city routes and all available ones are being used; the small buses were presented at the exhibition alongside the large ones to demonstrate the current situation with such vehicles in Odesa. The department director stated that since the inspection, transit operators have acquired 12 accessible buses and are not deceiving anyone.

Regarding cashless payments, Petro Obukhov noted that at least two banks—Privat and Mono—are ready to provide these services, and asked what transit operators need to implement this, but Serhiy Shcherban advised waiting first for the fare increases, and only then, once the carriers have settled in, to raise the issue of cashless payments.  

Кирило Бойко