For the fourth time Russian capital has joined the World Car Free Day. However, this morning Muscovites were stuck in traffic jams as usual.

      That day Moscow officials traditionally give a lead to the car owners and use public transportation. Today Moscow City Deputy Mayor and a head of the Transport Committee Nikolai Lyamov went to his work by metro. He said he often used the underground railways when he was in a hurry, as well as many of his colleagues.

      More than 400 additional buses, 150 trolleybuses and 70 trams are set on the Moscow roads. The cost of the tickets for the public transportation is lowered twice, from 28 roubles to 13.

        However, most of Moscow car owners was unable to leave their cars today. Many internet services for traffic control fix big traffic jams on all arterial highways. According to the recent poll, more than 50% of Muscovites are still not ready to change the usual order of their day.  Most of them are afraid they won't be able to be in time for their work or important meetings. Others just don't understand the sense of that action.

      According to international ratings, Moscow still has one of the longest traffic jams in the world. An average traffic jam in Moscow lasts for 2.5 hours. Those who do not want to waste their time in jams have already refused from personal transport.

      The first Car Free Day in the world was held by accident in 1973, when, during the oil crisis in Switzerland, the country's authorities called on the citizens to leave their cars for four days. Later several Car Free Days were held in different European countries quite spontaneously. In 1997 Great Britain joined the event for the first time and so gave a start to holding Car Free Day every year at the same time. In 2000 European Commission called on the whole European Union to take part in the event. 

Sources: RBK Newsru

      Image: MosEcolog

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