On the very day of the ban on migrant taxi services in the city of St. Petersburg, taxi prices increased significantly - up to 30%. This was reported by the local publication "Fontanka.ru" based on the results of its analysis.
Journalists compared the cost of trips in different directions of the city on November 6 and 7 in the "Comfort" tariff in the "Yandex Taxi" application. It was found that on November 7, when the ban came into effect, prices in some areas increased from 3.2% to 32.5% compared to the day before.
When many users tried to call a taxi, the app told them: "There are not enough drivers, you will have to wait longer for a taxi. Plan your trip in advance or use public transport." This created new inconveniences for the city's residents.
According to the Yandex Taxi administration, the number of active taxi drivers in St. Petersburg has decreased by 12% due to the new restrictions. This is equivalent to approximately 4,000 drivers losing their jobs. According to experts, this change could worsen the situation in the sector, where there is already a shortage of personnel.
According to Governor Alexander Beglov's August decree, migrants cannot engage not only in taxi driving but also in courier work. Officials explained this measure as "fighting informal employment," "increasing security in the service sector," and "creating new job opportunities for students."
At the same time, local economists believe that the removal of migrants from the market will reduce competition in taxi services, which could lead to a further increase in prices. For many residents of St. Petersburg, even a simple trip is becoming an expensive "luxury" service.
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