What Pensioners Need to Know About Free Travel and Possible Fines in Public Transport
In Ukraine, legislation grants certain categories of the population the right to free travel on public transport.
Among them, pensioners have the legal right to use various modes of transportation without paying fares.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Resolution No.
354 dated May 17, 1993, established this right, specifying that pensioners can travel free of charge on trolleybuses, trams, city buses, and suburban electric trains.
However, when it comes to taxis, marshrutkas, the metro, or interregional trains, passengers are required to pay.
It is crucial for pensioners to carry their pension identification to utilize this benefit.
If they forget it at home, and a controller checks their ticket, they will need to pay for the ride, or risk facing a fine.
Fines vary depending on the city, as local authorities set their amounts.
In the largest Ukrainian cities, fines can reach 140 hryvnias in Odesa, 160 hryvnias in Kyiv, and up to 300 hryvnias in Lviv.
Therefore, pensioners are advised to always carry their pension certificates to avoid misunderstandings and penalties when using public transportation.