Nizhny Novgorod residents were explained why cash was eliminated in public transport.

      On July 1, 2026, at 16:22 Society Starting from July 1, in Nizhny Novgorod, payment for travel on buses, trams, trolleybuses, and electric buses can only be made using a bank or transport card. The reasons for the transition to a cashless system and future plans were discussed by the Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways of the region, Denis Ryabinin, on the air of the radio station "Komsomolskaya Pravda - Nizhny Novgorod." According to him, the innovation is "not a revolution," but a continuation of an already established practice: today, 96% of the 800,000 daily trips are paid for cashlessly, and only 4% are in cash. At the same time, the authorities are not completely abandoning cash.

      "We are not canceling cash, but moving it outside the vehicle - to points of sale for travel documents and transport cards," emphasizes Denis Ryabinin.

      Transport cards can be purchased and topped up at "Rospechat" kiosks, Post of Russia branches, metro ticket offices, and "Spar" and "Smart" stores. In the near future, "Pyaterochka" and "Magnit" will be connected to the system. Inside the vehicle, bank and transport cards remain, as well as payment through mobile applications and QR codes. The main effect, according to the Deputy Minister, is not fiscal but social. The authorities expect to reduce accidents by ensuring that drivers are no longer distracted by accepting cash and giving change. In addition, this simplifies their work and eliminates material responsibility for cash revenue. Another goal is the transparency of financial flows. According to the politician, part of the cash revenue from private carriers is not always reflected in their reporting. The cashless system will allow for increased tax revenues and more accurate accounting of passenger flow for route adjustments. In the first month, passengers without a card will not be fined; however, those without tickets will be removed from the vehicle - the fine for traveling without payment is 1,000 rubles. The Deputy Minister noted that in such situations, mutual assistance among passengers is possible. Internet outages will not affect payments: the system works offline, and the deduction of funds occurs later. However, if there are no funds on the card at the time of deduction, it will be placed on a stop list. To avoid this, Denis Ryabinin recommended using a separate rechargeable transport card. The abandonment of paper tickets is also being discussed. According to the speaker, they are no longer printed in large cities, which reduces equipment wear. In Nizhny Novgorod, the possible transition will be gradual - initially on certain routes. Currently, the new system is only in effect in the regional center. In 2028, cashless payment is planned to be implemented in Dzerzhinsk, Bor, Balakhna, and Gorodets. As the share of cashless payments increases, the process, as Denis Ryabinin stated, is proceeding "painlessly." Earlier, we reported that residents of Nizhny Novgorod would be able to rate their trips on public transport via QR code. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod." When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+