Льготники в городе: пассажиры старшего возраста и этика мобильности в инфраструктуре украинского общественного транспорта

Аннотация

The article analyzes the compound infrastructural impact of concessionary fares (l'gota) for the elderly on public transport in Ukrainian cities of 1990-2000's. The author uses the term «assemblage» to trace the non-obvious effects of differentiated tariffs. Assemblage is formed by heterogeneous elements, such as cars and rails, the political course of the state, the age division of the passengers and ethical representation used by townspeople. Since the Soviet period the concessionary (zero) fare in public transport has transformed from a privilege into the form of state and municipal help to low-income population (l'gotniki). In 2005 the law required that the private transport companies (minibuses known as marshrutki) would also carry l'gotniki free of charge. This situation was perceived as unfair not only carriers but also by l'gotniki, who continued to pay for the bus travel. The author shows how effects produced by l'gota were used in the re-configuring the transport mobility of city residents. L'gotniki with their specific status were alternately the incidental victims, the objects of care, and the decisive factor for the conservation of electric transport infrastructure. This article is based on data from a field study of passenger practices in Mariupol in years 2011-2013.