Real Hell: Krasnodar Visitor's Rant on Road Chaos and Traffic
Legends can already be made about traffic jams in Krasnodar. Everyone complains about them on social media — it seems the situation is only getting worse. But why does a trip to Krasnodar from any city in the region turn into real hell in winter and during icy conditions?
A native Kuban resident told 93.RU what has been building up inside him.
Infernal Traffic Jams at Any Time of Day
Krasnodar is the capital of the south? No, forget it. For a driver, it«s a city of survival. The chaos on the roads really gets on your nerves every time; no other Kuban city has such traffic.
The first thing that«s particularly irritating is the famous Krasnodar traffic jams. They never clear up. You can stand for an hour at one intersection at any time of day. When the flow finally moves half a meter, everyone immediately starts honking. But as soon as the slightest gap appears, three cars try to occupy it at once. And the trams, which by some magic manage to also stand in traffic jams? Often, it happens that someone parks near the tracks, and the tram simply can»t pass, and they didn«t leave a phone number. So, a tram traffic jam forms. Or you immediately recall cases when drivers actively weave along the rails, tram drivers honk, but they don»t care.
Daredevils on Summer Tires
But the real hell begins when snow falls and ice forms. It«s a real disaster. The roads are cleaned very poorly; the utility workers, apparently, wait for everything to melt on its own. You get the impression that the city services perceive ice as a seasonal decoration for the city. You drive as if on a skating rink. And local drivers definitely consider themselves immortal and can fly down the roads in such weather, cut others off, not use turn signals, and ignore distance. The famous Kuban recklessness, when the yellow traffic light is perceived as a signal to start a race.
Ice is a separate nightmare. Already in constant stress behind the wheel, and here there are nothing but potholes, mountains of dirty snow on the shoulders, because of which you might not see a turn. What also drives you crazy is the fact that when snow melts, potholes appear on the roads that are invisible. On such an «attraction,» you can lose your suspension in five seconds. Somehow, on icy roads, you can still drive on winter tires, but there are those who drive on summer ones. The carelessness of our motorists is very surprising. They always warn that the weather isn«t for summer tires, and we have a law. But no, many don»t care.
Pedestrians Get on Your Nerves
The parking lots near shopping centers are incredibly surprising. It seems they are specially watered at night so that in the morning shoppers can engage in figure skating.
Getting to Krasnodar from almost any city in Kuban is only possible with sedatives in the glove compartment. You constantly worry that you«ll burn all your fuel in traffic jams and there won»t be enough gasoline for the road. The navigator says one thing — but in reality, it turns out completely different. Both time on the road and gasoline cost many times more.
The narrow streets of Krasnodar also get on your nerves. The center was clearly designed for carriages, not for the flow of cars in a city of a million. There are many streets where two cars barely pass each other. And there are those that suddenly end in labyrinths of the private sector. The navigator can lead you into the jungle of single-story buildings, where there isn«t really a proper road. In many places, there is one-way traffic, you notice the signs at the last moment, and the road markings wore off, apparently, back in the Stone Age. You get a strong feeling that you»re not in a city of a million, but in a huge stanitsa (a Cossack village) where everyone is their own boss and decides for themselves where to park, how to drive, and cross the street.
Pedestrians are also a pain for drivers in Krasnodar. Some run across the road in unexpected places, jumping out from behind parked cars. Considering that many streets in residential microdistricts are lined with cars on both sides, it«s a terrible stress. Also annoying are those who cross the »zebra« crossing so leisurely, as if strolling along a boulevard — and even talking on the phone.
Krasnodar is truly a good city. Here, there is a beautiful park, many establishments where they cook deliciously. But the roads and traffic jams are simply a nightmare. I try to come here as little as possible in my own car, preferring the Swallow train or, as a last resort, the bus.
