After the summer fare increase, public transport in Vinnytsia recorded a loss of 414 thousand trips, and passenger traffic decreased by 11.1%. Trams and trolleybuses suffered the most, while bus transport saw a slight increase. This is reported by Traffic Odessa.
How passenger traffic in Vinnytsia changed after the fare increases
The overall decline almost entirely affected electric transport. The number of trolleybus trips decreased by 15.7%, and tram trips by 12.2%. In contrast, buses showed a growth of 3.4%.
The structure of passenger traffic also changed. The number of privileged trips remained almost unchanged, but their share increased from approximately 34.1% to 38.3%. Thus, the reduction primarily occurred among paying passengers.
The most significant decrease was in payments made by bank cards — down by 16.3%. Trips made with the non-personalized 'Vinnytsia citizen card' decreased by 25.8%. These figures indicate that the price increase may have altered the daily habits of residents, not just the payment method.
Why September will be important for Vinnytsia's transport
September will be particularly indicative: after the end of vacations, schoolchildren and students return to travel. If demand does not recover during this period, it may indicate a more sustainable change in passenger behavior.
The fares were increased due to the rising cost of electricity, fuel, and maintenance of rolling stock. At the same time, higher prices may encourage people to avoid transfers, choose shorter walking routes, or use bicycles or electric scooters. Previously, the fare review in Vinnytsia was explained by the fact that transport operates on subsidies.
For the transport company, fewer paid trips mean a risk of not receiving expected revenue, even if the fare has increased. This may complicate track repairs and the renewal of rolling stock. City departments continue to monitor passenger traffic and assess how to adapt schedules to the new situation.
The Vinnytsia trend fits into a broader fare review in cities across Ukraine: the reasons for the changes and differences in trip costs are shown in a review of fares in cities.