Marshrutka

A marshrutka is a vehicle that is a blend of a cab, a bus, and a random dude with a van hawking rides. First created in the Soviet era, marshrutkas were intended to carry groups of tourists in luxury. That ambition ceased during World War II, but the makeshift means of public transport came roaring and sputtering back into favor afterward…with a notable dip in quality control. Marshrutkas are not accountable to any centralized public transportation system yet are often the most essential, affordable means of hurtling through a given city—especially one with limited public transport.

In Kyiv, this popular method of conveyance is meant to accommodate ten to twenty passengers. Inherent in the experience of riding in one, however, is bearing witness to wildly flexible notions of capacity. From the road, passengers flag them down by using specific hand gestures that signal their desired destination.

Marshrutkas provide a fascinating, interactive glimpse into local life. If you enjoy spirited driving, this mode of transport is for you. Riding one takes a mental adjustment that must be assisted by a healthy dose of blind faith. Drivers snake through traffic quickly, swerving across lanes and taking shortcuts to offer the most efficient service for an often jampacked vehicle. These minibuses do have designated, predetermined stops…which tend to be noted with flagrant disregard, or with great accommodation and generosity, depending on your perspective (and whether your driver is willing to take a scenic route to deliver you to your door).

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