In Voice of Russia's weekly entertaining show From Moscow With Love with its unrivaled hosts Vasily Strelnikov and Natalia Stefanova will tell you about the most interesting events in Moscow, Russia and the World. This week, Natasha discovers her street has joined the list of pedestrian - only zones in Moscow. What are the benefits and drawbacks? Vasily still can’t figure out how to park his car near his house without being fined and considers a few illegal options. The presenters share their weekend adventures outside of town. In Natasha’s case it’s a visit to a friends' country house and Vasily goes speed boating on a toxic water reservoir. Plus, listeners’ letters and a recipe for making Tkhemali.
Nataly: This morning I had to drop in at my Moscow apartment. Imagine my horror when I saw that my dear Pokrovka street in the city center is all dug up, the old asphalt is lying in huge heaps, the new tiles that were laid only a year ago, are also lying in huge and ugly heaps, and the street is closed for all means of transportation. WHAT ON EARTH IS GOING ON?! -thought I as I hobbled through the debris.
Vasily: Yea, that looks like a tendency right now. Many central streets are all of a sudden becoming pedestrian only and to be frank, I’m not sure anymore of it’s a good thing or a bad thing. On the one hand, yes, of course, less exhaust, cleaner environment… on the other hand, by blocking all these streets to cars, the authorities are shooting themselves in the foot in their fight for less traffic jams. The cars have to go somewhere… and that’s where congestion starts… and now they are turning your street into a pedestrian zone. I think, you’ve mentioned it in one of our previous shows.
Nataly: I did. But nobody expected such turmoil!
Vasily: Yes, the same thing is happening on Pyatnitskaya street, where the VOR building is situated. It’s practically impossible to walk there. On Thursdays, when we tape the show, I would normally drive from the south of the city where my other job is located and I would take Pyatnitskaya straight to the Radio Building. Now I have to make a major detour and lose time in traffic.
Nataly: Exactly! A brilliant idea of our Mayor – to turn some of the central streets into pedestrian zones.
Vasily: I don’t think it’s a bad idea on the whole, it’s good for business etc etc… It’s just that you get a sense of something’s not right here. Or maybe it’s just me and my usual outlook on the world – “something’s not right here!”
Nataly: Not only it isn’t the smartest thing to do , but it’s a real disaster for Muscovites – look, in our climatic zone summer is the only time when Muscovites can leisurely walk the streets of their city, enjoying the sights and the greenery, especially during weekends when Moscow is practically empty, because most of the people are off to the country. However, thanks to our Mayor it looks like the streets have been bombed, and it’s simply dangerous to walk there, especially for elderly people, who are risking their lives every time they leave home. Besides, I’m not sure the PEDESTRIAN zone will mean there will be NO traffic there. I’m afraid the traffic will remain, but the sidewalks will be much wider, there will be no place for parking, and the street will be a total mess with horrible traffic jams.
Vasily: When else do you expect them to do the construction work? In winter? When there’s snow all around? I guess it’s something you just have to be patient about.
Nataly: Also, think of the poor building companies that are mushrooming all over Moscow. They must be fed. Our Mayor must take care of their wellbeing. He keeps them busy. My husband told me so. He said, who cares for Muscovites and their comfort? The Mayor has more important things on his mind. I only hope this disaster will be through by the beginning of September – when the new school year starts. Anyway, I’ll keep you informed.
Vasily: Well, let me inform you now about some of the other streets in Moscow that have already become pedestrian havens. Relax, take a valium, go for a walk and experience a slightly different Moscow. First there’s Kamergersky Lane - just off Tverskaya street, Kamergersky used to be the book shop street of Moscow until it went pedestrian under mayor Yury Luzhkov and quickly became packed with cafes and terraces. Each year, the cafes encroach a little bit further on each side of the street creating a smaller and smaller alley for pedestrians to walk along. So now, there are pedestrian traffic jams. Near by, there’s Kuznetsky Most or Kuznetsky Bridge. This is a nice walk from Tverskaya street to Detsky Mir or the biggest Toy Store – Kid’s World. The area around is often taken over by wild party people, drinking in the streets, which sometimes leads to fights. Excellent entertainment, if you’re into that sort of thing! One result of the many new pedestrian only zones is an increase in street musicians, especially along Kuznetsy Most, mostly a good thing except when 10 of them are playing simultaneously and their so called producers are soliciting small bills and change from those passing by. Stages have gone up in the new areas and used for street festivals. Next stop - Stoleshnikov Lane. This street has long been car free and packed with expensive shops. There are a couple of bike rental points and you can easily get to Nikolskaya Street – one of the newest pedestrianized streets, which runs up from St. Basil's to Lubyanka Square and is very popular with tourists for obvious reasons. Worth mentioning Moscow’s oldest pedestrian street – The Stary or Old Arbat! Here’s what Moscow news wrote about this a few years ago: “The city's most famous car-free street has long been pedestrianized and remains a weird mix of incompetent tourist traps, bikers, people selling rabbits, teenagers mourning the death of Rock Star Viktor Tsoi, the looming foreign ministry and migrants dressed as polar bears. Stary Arbat is often a visual, aesthetic overload but unfortunately, that is often a lot of something too much. Not to be visited with a hangover.”
Nataly: Why, oh why can’t things ever be done properly here?!
Vasily: One more little factoid. According to numbers just released, business is down for all stores and shops along Tverskaya street, ever since it became a no parking zone. You can see it with your eyes – the street is literally empty in the daytime and in the evening. It reminds me of what I saw on June 6th, 1975 when I arrived in Moscow for the very first time.
