Small ships that are used to carry passengers as public transport have different names: river trams, water buses, aquabuses. A water minibus is usually called a ship that operates in the mode of a shuttle bus, i.e. stops at the pier at the request of passengers.
The capacity of such a vessel usually does not exceed 200 people. Its movement speed is 20-60 km / h. Fast hydrofoils are usually used for excursion transportation, because their use as public transport would be impractical due to the high cost of travel. Water minibuses are not only river, but also coastal sea vessels.
A trip on a water minibus is more expensive than on land transport, but it has a significant advantage, which is especially appreciated by residents of large cities: passengers will not have to waste time in traffic jams. In the hot season, an additional plus is the coolness from the water, relatively fresh air and the absence of exhaust gases. In addition, the water route usually runs directly between two coastal points, so passengers gain time savings.
This method of travel is quite popular wherever there are conditions for it. In the Netherlands, the state uses a widespread canal system to create a public water transport network. It is subsidized along with the metro and surface public transport. In Paris and London, water minibuses are used not only as an excursion, but also as public transport. In Venice, water buses are called vaporettos and are very popular with both tourists and locals.
In St. Petersburg there are 4 lines for the movement of aquabuses: "Primorskaya", "Central", "Kurortnaya" and "Nevskaya". The cost of the trip is quite high: 100-200 rubles, although the city subsidizes this type of transport. In addition, it is planned to launch 2 water ambulances. Their advantage over ground ones will be the ability to bypass city traffic jams.
The Moscow authorities are also exploring the possibility of launching water public transport along the Moskva Canal. Taking into account the Moscow traffic jams, most likely, this method of transportation will be quite popular.
