Rostov residents criticize mayor's team as snow collapse paralyzes city
Snow removal equipment on the roads was observed by only a few people.
Despite all the weather warnings, Rostov once again was unprepared for the heavy snow that hit the city on February 2. A transportation collapse, unlike any seen in a long time, ensued. Record-breaking 10-point traffic jams lasted for six hours. We asked our readers to tell us how they got home from work that evening. We publish their comments.
Traffic on a major Rostov street is at a standstill due to heavy snow.
«My husband was getting home, walking, like many other people. There was no transport. He was picked up on the way and became the last passenger in the car. Thank you to all the caring motorists who pick up frozen people on the road! These are real Russians!»
Cars are stuck in deep snow on a residential street in Rostov.
«I was riding route 33 today. From Voroshilovsky to the suburban railway station, almost an hour… The main reason is that people try to squeeze through. They enter the intersection and wait for their traffic light, interfering with other road users. At other intersections, it»s the same situation. They pulled out into the wrong traffic light and traffic came to a halt… If they were less brazen, they would get there faster. Everyone thinks they are the cleverest.«
Pedestrians walk along a snow-covered sidewalk as vehicles remain immobilized.
«10-point traffic jams are an objective indicator of the work of the utility services and the management of the mayor»s team. In the evening on the way home (from the center to the residential area) I did not see a single piece of cleaning equipment. This morning I noticed that Sadovaya Street (!!!) is cleaned disgustingly. On the asphalt, there is a layer of compacted snow about five centimeters thick.«
A bus struggles to move through unplowed snow on a Rostov road.
«Those on winter tires are moving. And they are not being pushed. Let»s say together «thank you» to the economists. And also the truck drivers, in the city… Maybe just stay at the base or at a gas station and wait until it all passes?«
A view of a traffic jam stretching into the distance during the snowstorm.
«Near the Volna pool, one woman in a white Mercedes drove through my green light, I spat right into her cabin, a surprise for her. The second one in a white jeep near IUBIP also jumped the red light, got hit with a bag containing a hammer in the side. He got out and got another dose of pepper spray. A difficult weather situation does not give the right to violate traffic rules.»
Snow accumulation on a central Rostov street after the February 2 storm.
«I wonder how people live in cities where such snow is a common occurrence. Also 10-point traffic jams every day?»
Residents attempt to clear snow from their vehicles amidst the gridlock.
«At Kommunistichesky/Le-Mana, passengers first helped minibus No. 73, then No. 41, and then walked, as the minibuses did not go further on their route.»
«Yeah, trash, I barely squeezed through to home. In horror at how to get out of the courtyards tomorrow. The uphill climb, everyone is skidding. Cars just don»t move, the wheels spin and that«s it. Aviagorodok neighborhood.»
«The fifth hour has begun since I left the city center and still haven»t reached Kamenka. We left at 16:10! As they say, «have a good evening and a productive tomorrow workday»!«
«Not having waited for bus No. 85a at the station (16:30-17:00), I got on No. 3, in the area of the 20th line. The driver miscalculated the braking distance and crashed into a roadside assistance vehicle. Along the entire route, there was no snow removal equipment. I walked to the Suburban Bus Station, tried to call a taxi, but even at a cost of 1,200 rubles (about $12 at current rates) from Suburban to Ovoschnoy, it was impossible. Finally, having waited for No. 85a only at 19:30, I got to Ovoschnoy. The pedestrian bridge is never cleaned. To Yantarny, I walked knee-deep in snow.»
«I traveled from Sholokhov for 2 hours to »Astor«. Got out and walked to the Central Market.»
«For a whole day they»ve been talking about readiness, but the snow fell and nothing is ready.«
«My husband took two hours to get from work on Dovator to home on Portovaya. The roads are not cleaned, the bus is not heated! They raised the fare, but heating in winter is not necessary, is it not included in the ticket price?!»
«I didn»t make it home after work to Chaltyr, spending the night in the city. I«m afraid when I do get home, I»ll have to go back.«
«Disgrace, horror. The city is not cleaned. I work on Sovetskaya, with windows facing the roadway, not a single snowplow passed all day! Once some little tractor went by along the line and disappeared.»
«I»ve been driving on the M-4 towards the Aksay Bridge for almost three hours. It seems that by the time I get home, I«ll need to head back to work.»
«From Khalturinsky to Siversa along Krasnoarmeyskaya I drove exactly two hours. The reason was that a flock of sheep was on the road, they completely blocked the Siversa Bridge and squeezed through a small gate — the descent under the bridge near the bus station. Immediately after this traffic jam — an empty road, I dashed to the center of Bataysk in 15 minutes.»
«From Nefedova to Profsoyuznaya we drove for 3 hours, couldn»t get up Stavsky. Had to detour. But in general, of course, the snow collapse was just terrible.«
