Taxi drivers and politicians debate over fares for minors
In a contentious discussion at a taxi development forum in Yekaterinburg, representatives of the taxi industry and State Duma deputies have voiced opposing views on the transportation of children in taxis. The taxi industry is resistant to transporting minors at the same rates as adults, deeming it inappropriate and unpredictable, while lawmakers argue that society, including taxi drivers, needs to be more tolerant of children, or else Russia could face extinction within three generations.
Tatiana Butskaya, Deputy Chair of the State Duma Committee on Family, Children, and Youth Affairs, proposed legislative measures to ensure child fares in taxis are equivalent to standard fares, without compromising the comfort of the passengers. However, the question of who would cover the difference in cost sparked a heated debate.
"Transporting a child should not merely be an option. Historically, we made a child an additional complication for taxi drivers. In my childhood, a tax ride with a child didn't incur an additional cost," Butskaya emphasized.
On the other hand, taxi drivers firmly reject the idea of transporting children at the same rate as adults. It's not just about procuring car seats or boosters, but also the attitude towards motherhood and childhood. One driver stated, "Taxi parks have purchased car seats at 'Yandex' discounts, but drivers are unwilling to transport children. You must pick them up, drop them off. Mothers are still inappropriate. A child could do something. So 'Yandex' introduced an extra charge for the child seat. Only then did parks start providing seats for free so drivers would transport children. Now you want to remove the extra charges. Who will force the drivers to transport children?"
Butskaya retorted, "And after drunk adult passengers, you or your colleagues haven't had to clean your car?"
Another taxi driver, a father himself and one who transports passengers at the child rate, suggested that perhaps the state could subsidize this service in some way. "Maybe aggregators could provide equipment for free, offer training, and so on – at the legislative level?" he proposed.
Irina Zaripova, Chairperson of the Public Council for the Development of Taxi, revealed that many drivers are reluctant to transport children. "The driver often receives a screaming child in the back, who can kick the seat and make noise, and sometimes mothers stand up in a protective stance, like a cat protecting its kitten. So yes, when we surveyed drivers, we found that most of them do not view the idea of transporting children positively, some are willing for a fee, others not even for money," Zaripova explained.
Despite this resistance, the Public Council supports programs related to children, acknowledging the importance of drivers' tolerance towards children as a small contribution to the national project. "We are citizens of our country. People criticize us for having only migrant workers in taxis, and if this continues, in 50 years, not only taxis but even our government could be like that. We wouldn't want our society to change that way. We realized that drivers' tolerance towards children is a small part, our contribution to the national project. I think in 10-15 years, it will be calm for a driver to seat a child in a car seat," she added.
As the debate continues, it remains unclear who will bear the financial responsibility for transporting children in taxis at equivalent rates to adults. Typically, if children are allowed to travel in taxis at reduced rates or for free, the difference in fare compared to adult rates is covered by the taxi companies themselves or subsidized by local authorities. The exact details can vary by region and local regulations, suggesting that this issue is currently a subject of debate at local and municipal levels rather than a settled federal regulation.
"Tatiana Butskaya suggests addressing family-dynamics by proposing legislative measures to ensure that home-and-garden expenses, such as transportation costs for children in taxis, are equal for all passengers, maintaining a comfortable lifestyle for all. On the other hand, the taxi industry argues that relationships with children, in this context, are more complex than mere financial considerations, raising concerns about family-dynamics and the unpredictable nature of interacting with children in their work environment."
