Yaroslavl Oblast Abolishes Cash Payments in Transport

From April 1, Yaroslavl Oblast will stop accepting cash for fare payment in public transport. The decision was announced by Governor Mikhail Evraev.

«Along with the renewal of the rolling stock, we are also introducing new payment systems. From April 1, we are fully switching to cashless payments. Money will no longer be accepted in public transport throughout the region,» explained Mikhail Evraev.

For payment, passengers can use bank cards or the mobile apps «Yaroslavl Oblast. Transport» and «Yandex Go». These apps are included in the «white list» and function even with limited mobile internet.

Evraev noted that technical glitches are possible when paying with cards. «Here, delays or glitches may occur due to security requirements,» clarified Mikhail Evraev.

Also, starting April 1, 204 new buses will arrive in the region. They are planned to be deployed on routes connecting municipal districts and inter-municipal directions.

Earlier, from January 1, 2025, cash payments were abolished in public transport in Yaroslavl. This decision drew criticism: lawyer Andrei Alyoshkin pointed out a violation of passenger rights, and human rights ombudsman Sergei Baburkin advocated for the return of the cash option. The prosecutor«s office conducted an inspection and sent recommendations to the regional government. Ultimately, law enforcement concluded that the initiative complies with the law as long as an alternative remains, such as cash payment at stops.