As you may know, Poland is the most accommodating country toward the Ukrainian people. The UN states that over 14 million people are thought to have fled their homes since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Poland has taken the most, as you can see from the numbers below.
(Some people who traveled from Moldova to Romania are included in both countries’ totals).
The Help offered
The EU has granted Ukrainians the right to stay and work throughout its 27 member nations for up to 3 years. Poland, which has taken the highest number of refugees, and Moldova, which has the largest concentration of refugees by population, have both asked for international support to help fund their efforts.
The Struggles
Poland has offered many special benefits in order to support the growing number of Ukrainian refugees. For example payments for the households that keep refugees, free use of public transport, extra spots in kindergartens and schools, and free medical benefits (checkups and tests). Unfortunately, due to the high number of people that need help and the lack of funds, the Polish Government has decided to revoke some of the benefits.
The Withdrawal
The families or individuals that have taken refugees into their homes, via a law passed in March, were entitled to a daily payment of 40 zlotych (approximately 8-9 euros). The Government, sometime in April, counted that about 600 000 Ukrainian people benefited from such help.
Last week, though, the deputy interior minister Paweł Szefernaker announced that this benefit will no longer be available. He also mentioned that many refugees chose to return back and mentioned that since the 10th of May there have been more people crossing the border into Ukraine than into Poland.
Starting the 1st of June also the free municipal public for the refugees from Ukraine has been revoked. Free train travel is also off since this month.
All children are cordially invited to play together on the occasion of Children’s Day. This year MPK SA is organizing on May 29 (Sunday) from 12.00 to 15.00 at the Nowa Huta tram depot, at ul. Ujastek 12. There will be plenty of attractions for children, including the possibility of driving a real tram on your own.
Children will also be able to:
Visit places where trams are repaired,
Drive a tram through a car wash,
See technical vehicles and historic vehicles that used to run on Krakow streets in the distant past.
MPK SA has planned games, competitions, and games for the youngest. Interesting prizes are waiting for those who will take part in the competitions.
There will also be trips on which historical vehicles will take participants for a ride around the city
MPK will also talk about security. On the premises of the depot, policemen, city guards and MPK traffic inspectors will appear in their official cars. Children will be able to meet them and ask questions about safe movement in Krakow.
When does the event start?
You will be able to get to the depot in Nowa Huta by unique historic trams, which will leave punctually at 10.30 from the Podgórze tram depot, at ul. J. Brożka 3.
MPK invites all children in Krakow to play together, including those who escaped here from the war in Ukraine. On monitors installed in trams and buses, the invitation to the Children’s Day organized by MPK SA will be displayed in Polish and Ukrainian.
My darlings, it is so nice to have you again dropping over to listen to my rantings. Today I wanted to continue the series of Things You Should Know About Krakow as it seems you have rather enjoyed the first post on this topic. So without any further ado, let me share with you my knowledge. I have lived in Krakow for over 10 years now, so… as I like to point out: SHARING IS CARING! 🙂
1. Validating public transport tickets
In order to use public transport in Krakow – be it a tram or bus – you must first buy a ticket. Small kiosks sell them, but your quickest and safest option is buying them from the MPK vendor machines. You will be able to spot them right away as they are present next to the tram/bus stops and they have the colors of the city: white and blue. The nice thing about them is that you can pay either by cash or card (even PayPass/contactless or BLIK). The menu is in several languages: Polish (main, of course…), English, German, French, Italian and Spanish.
The MPK (Public Transport Authority of Krakow) tickets can be for single usage – 20 min, 40 min, 60 min – but there are also weekend tickets (or week-long or even monthly ones) that you can use on your stay in the city. However, if you will look at point #3 below, and if you plan to really get to know Krakow… you can always walk it and get a tram only if you are tired or if it rains. But when you do take a tram/bus, make sure you do these 2 basic steps: 1) Buy a ticket; 2) When entering the bus/tram make sure you validate it by using the yellow boxes on the bars inside. Without validation your ticket means nothing, and if you will get caught you will have to pay a big fine!
2. Drinking in public
It is illegal to drink in Public in Poland! Don’t even try it as you will get a fine! Public spaces – including parks, benches, and everywhere else you may try to open a beer to cool yourself on a hot day – are off-limits!
You can, however, choose to go to a pub or lay down and enjoy the sun from a terrace, while sipping on your Aperol Spritz or your beer. Outdoor seating areas that are licensed to sell alcoholic beverages do not count 😉 However, if you take your drink and step outside of the premises to have a smoke… you’re up for a fine!
Drinking alcohol in public places can land you in a dry-out cell for the night and you may get also a hefty fine. The legal blood-alcohol limit for driving is just 0.02 percent! The fines can get up to 300 euros + the “prison” sentence for the night, so you can sober up.
3. Book a hotel in Old Town or very near it
If you wish to have a nice stay in Kraków, not be touristy and actually experience the city like a local, then you should book an Airbnb or apartment in the Old Town. Or if you wish to splurge, take a hotel – there are plenty to choose from! Why Old Town, you may ask, rightly so… well… everything is within walking distance. You need not get a cab, or even public transport, as all the most notable places can be reached and discovered on foot.
It is true, the streets in the Old Town are cobbled stoned so high heels would definitely not be a good fit. Think sports shoes and flats and you’ll be fine 😉 plus, by walking you will truly learn and feel the heartbeat of the city. Make sure you check the side streets, the small shops, the old-school architecture of the “Kamienicca” – most buildings in the Old Town are from the 18-1900s. Unlike Warsaw (which was heavily bombed during the Second World War and destroyed almost 90%), Kraków has managed to keep its historic buildings.
4. If visiting avoid June-August (High Season)
I know everybody loves taking time off for holidays during summertime, but if you will choose the months of June, July and August to come visit Kraków, than be prepared for loads of tourists. Those 3 months consist of the High Season here.
Instead of summer, I highly recommend you to try the Polish Autumn. It’s not as hot, the trees are changing their leaves and they look marvelous, you can taste the famous fresh “szarlotka” (PL: apple pie) and local ciders (which are absolutely yummy!). Also, if you are a fan of skiing, winter may be a good time to come over too. The Tatra mountains are near (Zakopane is just a few hours away) and you can enjoy the lovely views.
5. Pre-book tickets for the museums online
Museums in Kraków are definitely worth being put on the list. Everyone will be able to see something interesting: from 19th century paintings as big as an entire wall, by the local artist Jan Matejko, to the Stained Glass windows; from modern art at MOCAK to Spitfires at the Aviation Museum; from real mummies (including a cat mummy!) to pages of the original Book of Death. You name it, Kraków has it!
The best way to experience the museums is without the queues though. For that, you can always go online and reserve and even pay for the tickets. Print them or download them to your phone and just get to the museum at the designated time. There are multiple branches that you can choose from, so just click here for the full list.
In connection with the coronavirus pandemic, the Public Transport Authority in Krakow introduces a change regarding fees for parking cars in park & ride parking lots. From April 1, the parking fee can only be made by a payment card or by making a contactless payment using, for example, a phone or a watch with the NFC function.
The change is dictated by the developing pandemic, and the limitation of coin payments minimizes the possibility of getting infected through contact with the vending machine
The Mayor of Krakow prepared a draft resolution on the recognition of parking tickets issued in commercial parking lots in public transport vehicles.
The draft resolution introduces the right to free travel by public transport in Krakow on the basis of parking tickets for people who use parking lots not organized by the Krakow commune, i.e. private parking operators – provides for a draft of new regulations.
In the justification of the draft resolution, it was also emphasized that this concept is aimed at implementing the city’s transport policy primarily in terms of limiting car traffic and increasing the role of public transport in the transport service of a given area, where residents and tourists usually come for leisure or cultural purposes.
A change in behavior is needed!
“It is in the interest of the commune of Kraków to encourage users of individual transport to change their behavior and to choose public transport more often. Customers of the given car parks will be able to use fast public transport on the basis of a valid parking ticket. The effect of such an undertaking will be the development of intermodal travel with the use of public transport, i.e. access by own vehicle to the nearest transfer node equipped with a parking lot, and then continuing the journey by public transport” – the office explains.
Detailed rules for honoring parking tickets in public transport in Krakow are to be specified in the relevant agreements between the Municipality of Krakow and interested parking operators.
The proposal
It has been proposed that payment for the acquisition of rights for passengers with valid parking tickets for a group of up to 5 adults or for a group of 2 (1 parent/guardian + 1 child under 16) to a maximum of 7 people (1 parent/guardian and 6 16 or 2 parents/guardians and 5 children up to 16 years of age), for multiple journeys in the indicated public transport vehicles in Krakow, was 5 PLN.
“This payment will constitute the income of the commune of Krakow and will be paid by private operators servicing parking facilities, on the basis of relevant contracts. It is estimated that the introduced changes should not generate additional costs for the commune of Krakow. However, the implementation of such an action will always contribute to the PLN 5 for a journey by public transport in Krakow based on an honored parking ticket “ – it was stated in the draft resolution.
Honoring parking tickets for the proposed entitlement to free travel by public transport, implemented in the area of the commune of Krakow and neighboring municipalities that have joined the agreement for the joint implementation of collective public transport, is to take place on the basis of parking tickets valid for a given parking day.
The new rules are to apply to car parks operated in Krakow by private operators who, in an appropriate agreement with the Krakow commune, will define detailed rules for honoring parking tickets.
Now the city councilors will deal with the draft resolution.
The city is preparing to open a new bus line in the very center of Krakow. The small buses running along it would take passengers along the streets of the historic Old Town, incl. ul. Sławkowska, Szpitalna and Mikołajska.
The final route for the new line has not yet been mapped out. Remember that inside the Planty, we do not have any public transport on Franciszkańska and therefore people with reduced mobility may have a problem with getting around, so we focused on the northern part of the very center. As a pilot, the line could run on streets with traffic. An example route is the following streets: Sławkowska, Pijarska, św. John, then St. Thomas or St. Marka to Szpitalna Street, then ul. Mikołajska, Westerplatte, to the Main Post Office, and then turn into ul. Sienna, St. Cross to St. Ducha, where the bus would take you to ul. Basztowa to the “Stary Kleparz” stop.
Sebastian Kowal from the Public Transport Authority in Krakow
Focus on the elderly living in the Old Town
He admits that the new line would be introduced especially for the elderly, those living within the Planty area, as well as those commuting to the very center. Currently, you can get there by tram, e.g. to the stop at the Main Post Office, and then if someone wants to get to the Main Market Square or its surroundings, you have to go on foot. After introducing a new bus route, it will be possible to drive, for example, to ul. Mikołajska or St. John. Other passengers, including tourists, will also be able to use this line.
“We are planning to start the piloting of the new line only when the center is unfrozen. We are currently hearing about another lockdown. However, if the new line is fully developed and the epidemiological situation is such that, for example, restaurants will be opened in the center, the new solution could be introduced in the second quarter of this year“ – explains Sebastian Kowal.
Karsan mini-busses to the rescue!
Karsan mini-buses will run on the new route (with a frequency of about 20 minutes). Recently, Krakow has purchased 2 vehicles of this type and their presentation took place.
Karsany are the smallest buses in the MPK SA fleet in Krakow. On March 10, one of them joined the vehicles used to operate the Tele-bus, the popular telephone bus. A day later, the second vehicle will start transporting passengers on the line No. 176 “Bodzów” – “Kostrze OSP”.
Karsans are vehicles with a length of 5.8 meters. Inside there is room for 21 passengers. – The biggest advantage of the Karsans is their small size and high maneuverability. These features are perfect for narrow streets, small intersections and turning loops, which drivers have to deal with on line 176. The maneuverability of the mini-bus will also work well on the roads of Płaszów and Rybitw, where the Tele-bus service is available – emphasized in the office.
The high maneuverability of the Karsans is evidenced by the turning radius of these buses. It is only 6.8 meters. Compared to a standard bus with a length of 12 meters, it is almost 2 meters smaller.
Apart from the maneuverability advantages of the Karsans, the vehicles are also passenger-friendly. They have a low floor, and for people in wheelchairs, there is also a special place inside the vehicles and a folding platform by the door. The vehicles were also equipped with a passenger information system, air conditioning, and USB ports for charging batteries for phones, tablets, and other mobile devices.
With the driver’s comfort in mind, the door has been designed exclusively for the bus driver. Panoramic windshield and large mirrors provide good visibility for drivers.
For two mini-buses, the city paid 812 thousand. PLN net.
The entitlements of the Krakow Card allows you to purchase season tickets at a lower price. Persons registered in Krakow or paying taxes here from February 1 can also use the new type of semi-annual ticket “5 + 1”. What is it all about?
Semi-annual tickets with discounts
The cost of purchasing such a ticket is 420 PLN in total. However, people who choose this type of ticket will not have to pay the full amount in advance. The fee will be charged automatically every month from the payment card indicated by the passenger – for five months it will be 80 PLN, and for the sixth month it will be 20 PLN or in the case of a concessionary ticket – 40 PLN for five months and 10 PLN for the sixth month (provided that a cheaper ticket is used) in the sixth month there are no gaps between the validity of individual tickets).
How to buy a 5 + 1 ticket?
First of all, you need to register for the Electronic Passenger Account at m.kkm.krakow.pl
After providing the required data and confirming the registration, the account will be created. You must then log in with your e-mail address and password.
Since the 5 + 1 ticket can be purchased only by persons with the status of the Krakow Card, the already existing Card with the Resident’s rights must be added to the created account, either in a mobile form or saved on a plastic card. To do this, select the “My cards” („Moje karty”) and “Add card” („Dodaj kartę”) tabs. A form will appear in which you must select the card type (e.g. mKK, KK plastic card, KKM – depending on where the Resident status is saved) and the customer code (copied from the card) and PESEL number.
To buy a 5 + 1 ticket, go to the “5 + 1 ticket” tab, subscribe (automatic renewal of the purchase every month) and complete the purchase.
The last step is the payment for the purchased ticket, made on the website of the TPay payment operator. It is done by adding information about the payment card, from which the funds for the ticket purchase will be charged every month. From now on, every month until the end of the 5 + 1 cycle, the payment card provided will be charged with the correct amount and another ticket will be automatically purchased under the subscription.
Yours truly,
The Twisted Red LadyBug, bringing you Krakow Info 🙂
On Monday, February 15, a new traffic organization was introduced near Wawel. The changes will result in the passage of ul. st. Idzi and Podzamcze will be severely limited. There will be no more transit on this route. The ride is still to be made available there only for selected vehicles, including those belonging to the inhabitants of the center of Krakow.
Changes in the traffic near Wawel Castle / Wawel Hill
We are finishing the process of introducing changes to the traffic organization near Wawel, which has been going on for over a week. We are implementing a project prepared by the Public Transport Authority and the Municipal Traffic Engineer to calm traffic in the area of the Royal Castle. As part of the changes, from Monday, St. Idzi and Podzamcze will be included in the restricted traffic zone. Most of the people who have used this ride so far will not be able to do it anymore
Michał Pyclik from the Road Administration of the City of Krakow
In the office, they emphasize that arranging parking spaces for cars, the movement of electric cars, facilitating the movement of pedestrians, and thus increasing safety, are the main goals of the solutions being implemented near Wawel.
“The next step in the implementation of the city’s transport policy plan, as well as part of improving the quality of space in the cultural park, is the inclusion of Podzamcze and św. Idzi, where there is already a residential zone to the currently restricted traffic zone” – explains the city hall. “According to the assumptions, the new traffic organization together with the currently binding residence zone in this area is to significantly contribute to the improvement of the safety of vulnerable road users” – they add.
Who will be able to move freely there?
Only the following persons will be authorized to enter the restricted traffic zone: – residents with a K type parking subscription for sectors A1, A2, A4; – from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. only for and for the duration of loading and technical service – bicycles, horse-drawn carriages, consular corps, diplomatic corps, public transport, taxis, post office special services, municipal services, labeled medical assistance; – commuting to the property, garage, or reserved space at ul. Podzamcze, ul. st. Idzi and the Wawel Royal Castle; – commuting to the property at ul. Grodzka 64; – supplying the property at ul. st. Gertrude 26-29; – drivers with a permit from the Krakow City Roads Authority.
Councilors Rafał Komarewicz and Dominik Homa from the presidential club “Przyjazny Krakow” submitted a joint interpellation to the president of Krakow with an application for the purchase of new minibusses and the launch of new bus lines in Krakow.
“We are asking you to buy more Karsan minibusses, which are able to reach more residents with the offer of Krakow public transport” – emphasize the councilors Komarewicz and Homa.
Lack of public transport in certain areas
They point out that due to various difficulties in road traffic and the ownership structure, residents of the areas of Bochenka, Bronowice, Przegorzał, and Wola Justowska streets are doomed to lack of public transport in the vicinity.
The Councillors proposition
The Councillors proposed to launch 2 new bus lines operated by Karsan minibuses:
Bronowice (Widok estate) – Na Błonie – Wola Justowska – Przegorzały – Salwator;
Kurdwanów – Cechowa – Podedworze – Loaf – Łużycka – Nowosądecka – Piaski Nowe or the 2nd option: Kurdwanów – Cechowa – Łużycka – Loaf – Podedworze – Piaski Nowe.
The councilors also ask in the interpellation that the answer to it should include an analysis of the proposed variants. “In the event that it is not possible to service the above-mentioned routes, please provide other communication solutions for the above-mentioned areas” – we read in the interpellation.
Minibusses are already in Krakow!
Let us recall that recently 2 minibusses, Karsany, with a length of approximately 6 m, have arrived in Krakow. There is room for 21 passengers inside. These are the smallest and most agile vehicles in the MPK SA fleet in Krakow.
Higher performance in narrow spaces
As the MPK in Krakow admits, the biggest advantage of these small buses is the ability to drive along narrow streets and through small intersections. Karsan mini buses are expected to perform well on routes such as line No. 176 (Bodzów – Kostrze OSP), where there are both very narrow roads and small loops, where there is very little space to turn back.
Passenger friendly – charge your tablet/phone on the go!
Apart from the maneuverability advantages of the Karsans, the vehicles are also passenger-friendly. They have a low floor. For people in wheelchairs, there is also a special place inside the vehicles and a folding platform by the door. The vehicles were also equipped with a passenger information system, air conditioning, and USB ports for charging the batteries of phones, tablets, and other mobile devices.
Driver comfort – they have that too!
With the driver’s comfort in mind, the door has been designed exclusively for the driver. Panoramic windshield and large mirrors provide excellent visibility for drivers.
How much would it cost?
The purchase of 2 minibusses costs PLN 812 thousand PLN net. Before they can go to the streets and be able to carry passengers, they still have to undergo technical checks.
Marek Gancarczyk, the MPK spokesman, admits that this type of specialized buses are brought to a specific route. So first there is a decision to launch a new line, and then the rolling stock adapted to it as needed.
A tender for a new electric city bike is to be announced in February. The city plans that if all goes well, there will be 1000 bicycles at 100 stations available for residents already around the holidays. These are also to be located on the periphery and in less urbanized neighborhoods. The new municipal electrics are to be access function to means of public collective transport.
A tender for electric bikes is up!
“We will announce the tender in February. To start with, we want a thousand bikes. The inhabitants do not massively use and do not know electric bikes, so we want to distribute them. That is why we do not go straight to the level of three thousand bikes. We will be the first city in Poland to offer an electric city bike” – says Łukasz Franek, director of the Public Transport Authority (ZTP).
A new system – lease for min 4 years
The new system of the Krakow city bike (there is no official name yet) works differently from the Wavelo system, where the costs of the system, but also the income, were on the operator’s side. Now, Krakow wants to have a service, at least for 4 years, for which it will pay, as it pays MPK and Mobillis for transport services.
The costs behind it
What costs are we talking about? ZTP estimates that it will be approx. PLN 5-7 million per year. For the implementation of the bicycle policy, including the city bicycle system in Krakow, in 2021 the city budget has allocated less than PLN 10 million.
“The interested companies declare that they are able to prepare the system in 3 months. Theoretically, the bike could be available during the holidays, I do not want to declare it. The situation is what it is. It may turn out that there are no bikes or companies will miss financially. You also have to take into account appeals from the tender” – emphasizes Łukasz Franek.
1000 bicycles at 100 stations, including a lot on the outskirts
ZTP officials assume that the basic function of the new city bike will be the function of accessing public means of collective transport. In addition, the electric bicycle is to play an important communication function in the more peripheral, less urbanized regions of Krakow. Initially, there will be about 100 stations (10 bikes for each station) and they are to be evenly distributed throughout the city. Thus, there will be less accumulation of stations in the very center of Krakow.
Hubs outside of the city + on the outskirts
The stations would appear, among others in such locations as Tyniec or the area of ul. Klasztorna. It is also about places where there is a bicycle infrastructure, there are paths for bicycles, thanks to which you can cover longer distances on electrics, up to 10-15 km. For now, it remains unknown how much the residents will pay for the new city bike, whether it will be somehow related to the public transport ticket tariff, etc.
“If we were to make an ordinary bicycle, we can repeat the Wavelo model, but here we want flexibility, where the stations are integrated with public transport, where it is possible to change and correct it” – adds Łukasz Franek.
Wavelo bikes left Krakow
Let us remind you that Wavelo has been operating in Krakow since 2016. It was very popular among residents and tourists. The Krakow authorities have signed a contract with BikeU to run a city bike rental facility for as many as eight years, until 2024. As part of it, BikeU provided residents with up to 1500 bicycles available at one time at 168 stations located throughout the city.
The Krakow city bike solution was quite innovative, because all costs and responsibility for the system were borne by the concessionaire, i.e. BikeU. The city paid only PLN 1 month for each bike, i.e. PLN 1,500. In addition, the city got 1 percent. loan receipts.
At the end of 2019, however, the BikeU company suddenly submitted a letter to the Krakow City Hall terminating the contract for running the Wavelo bicycle rental. More Wavelo two-wheelers began to disappear from Krakow. Ultimately, it happened at the beginning of 2020.
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