Authorities are considering banning the “child fare” surcharge on taxi aggregator apps in Russia, sparking debate about accessibility and driver willingness. Market players believe the issue is nearing resolution, but they worry that strict bans may not improve access for families with children and could even lead to drivers refusing such rides.

The proposal to eliminate surcharges for trips requiring child seats arose earlier this year. The “Fair Russia — For Truth” faction plans to introduce a bill to prevent fare increases when a child seat is necessary, arguing that current surcharges are excessive and contradict the President’s goal of making transportation affordable for families.

Tatiana Butskaya, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Family Protection, Paternity, Maternity and Childhood, reiterated this stance at a recent taxi industry conference. She emphasized that children should not be subject to extra charges, drawing a comparison to airlines and railways that offer discounts for children. Butskaya suggested that aggregators could implement the change without waiting for legislative amendments.

Yuri Yemets, Director of the Taxi Fleets Association, questioned who would bear the cost of this change. He fears drivers will avoid passengers with children without surcharges, citing potential issues like messiness and difficult behavior. He also mentioned past instances of passengers exploiting loopholes in the system to avoid paying extra.

Experts suggest alternatives like fixed surcharges, state subsidies for taxis serving large families, or tax breaks for drivers who transport children. However, they stress the need for a robust reporting and control system.

Taxi drivers themselves are largely opposed to the ban, fearing it will exacerbate the existing reluctance to accept child fares. Some drivers shared anecdotes of unprofitable short trips with children and highlighted the added risks and responsibilities involved, including potential criminal liability in case of accidents.

Yandex.Taxi acknowledged that eliminating the “Children’s” fare might reduce the number of drivers willing to transport children with special seats. The company is exploring discounts for large families through integration with the “Gosuslugi” state information system, which will be tested in select regions before wider implementation.

Maxim service, which currently does not impose surcharges for trips with children, indicated that the proposed changes would not affect their users. The company is also developing a “Gosuslugi” verification mechanism to provide a 25% discount for large families, with a pilot project underway in the Kurgan region.