Check out the Gorgeous Subways of the Former Soviet Union

I visited Russia for ten days in 2003, and it was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Standing in Red Square, walking around Saint Petersburg, it was truly incredible.

One thing I noticed was how elaborate and beautiful some of the subway stations were in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. The Soviets built incredible subway and train stations (some of them very far below ground). During the peak years in the Soviet Union, only 30 out of 1,000 citizens owned cars, so it was imperative to have a top-notch subway public transit system.

Even the more modern stations are pretty breathtaking. It’s a matter of priorities.

Here are some of the best.

1. Chernaya Rechka (Black River), Saint Petersburg.

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Как вы воспринимаете себя? Когда вы – это действительно вы, а не общественно удобный вариант вашей личности? Когда вы рассказываете о себе, вы хотите показаться лучше? Немного потока сознания на эту тему. ? Я часто рассуждаю о том, какой я на самом деле. Принимаю ли это я решение, или навязанный стереотип быть "сильным", "становится лучше" и "преодолевать себя" заставляет делать меня то, что по настоящему мне не нужно? Например, взбираться на гору, учиться водить машину, стричься, делать физические упражнения, есть здоровую еду, не пить алкоголь. Это я или не я? Может, моё внутреннее я на самом деле хочет сесть за компьютер и погрузиться в RPG на неделю. Может настоящий я – там? ? Нам всё время отовсюду твердят о самосовершенствовании. Поэтому "не развиваться" как-то стыдно. В то же время, общество не любит тех, кто "прыгает" слишком высоко. И поэтому часто приходится показывать себя несколько хуже, чем ты есть. Например, в СССР долгое время принято было быть скромным. И после распада это обернулось тем, что скромность наоборот стала пороком. Общественные установки меняются чрезвычайно быстро. Курить в школе считалось крутым, сейчас "курение убивает". Трудоголизм также постепенно сдаёт свои позиции, работать без отдыха уже считается неправильным. Отдых также имеет какие-то требования для вашего круга общения. Например, много где тех, кто ходит в пешие походы считают "экстремалами" или "бомжами". В среде походников же обычные отпуска иначе как "тюленьими" и не называют. ? Желание построить крутой образ себя, необычного и успешного, сильного и волевого, развивающегося и успешного, часто загоняет истинные мотивы и импульсы внутрь. Я люблю находиться на природе, люблю испытания, но не меньше я люблю залипать дома и заказывать еду, чтобы смотреть фильмы. Фильмы вообще для меня дают нисколько не меньше, чем путешествия за пределы квартиры. Мне нравится анализировать их, погружаться в миры, и иногда представлять свои. Навряд ли человека, который просто смотрит кино, можно назвать успешным и развивающимся. Многие вообще видят в фильмах жвачку для мозга. Но мне плевать. Я люблю фильмы. Я настоящий раскрываюсь как зритель и переживаю этот опыт один или с кем-то.

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2. Look at the detail.

3. Narvskaya Station, Saint Petersburg.

4. Avtovo Station, Saint Petersburg.

5. A newer station in Moscow.

6. Elektrozavodskaya Station, Moscow.

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The most incredible subway in the world ? ? ?

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7. Taganskaya Station, Moscow.

8. Avtovo Station, Saint Petersburg.

9. Cold and lonely walkway.

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Вчера Петербургский метрополитен ? работал без перерыва. Так он выглядит в 2 ночи. По моему очень здорово. #метро #эстетика #урбанизм #петербургскийметрополитен #sybway #russiansubway #spb #saintpetersburg #санктпетербург #ночь #следущая_станция_автово #переход_на_3_линию #конечнаястанция_девяткино #маяковская #площадь_мужества #площадь_александра_невского #новочеркасская #площадь_восстания

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10. A grand station in Moscow.

11. A station in Yekaterinburg.

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??? My nearest underground station В период моей жизни в Англии мне пару раз доводилось общаться с моими international friends касательно темы российского метрополитена, в частности московского. Те, кому удавалось посетить столицу РФ (из полусотни наберется едва 3 студента), отмечали архитектуру станций (не всю подземку в целом) как одну из лучших. Кстати наша британская подруга Андреа тоже под впечатлением. Действительно, большинство станций московского метро выглядят как картинные галереи. Если будете в Москве, обязательно прогуляйтесь по самым, по-моему мнению, прекрасным галереям московской подземки: – Комсомольска (кольцевая); – Киевская (кольцевая и Арбатско-Покровская линия); – Новослободская; – Таганская; – Парк Культуры (кольцевая) и другие. Кстати станции Лондонского метро не особо впечатляющие, хотя некоторые – в стиле Hi-Tech. Именно такой стиль мне нравится больше. Станций Екатеринбургского метрополитена не много, но каждая из них стилизована под конкретную тематику. Например Чкаловская – в честь советского летчика Валерия Чкалова (в честь него названы район города и одна из улиц). А Ботаническая (на фото выше) в стиле пчелиных сот. Кстати она мне нравится больше всех. #метро #underground #ботаническая #русскоеметро #yekaterinburg #history #fact #russiansubway #russiantube #россия #therussianfederation

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12. Nizhny Novgorod. Futuristic.

13. Art in Saint Petersburg.

14. Mayakovskaya Station, Moscow.

15. They are beautiful, indeed.

Have you been to Russia and visited some of the train stations?

Share your favorite with us in the comments!

The post Check out the Gorgeous Subways of the Former Soviet Union appeared first on UberFacts.

Remember the “Dad Wagon?” It’s Making a Trendy Comeback

Fashion/trendiness is whatever looks great today, will look ridiculous in 10 years, and become “vintage cool” in 20 years.

It’s a tale as old as time. Whether it’s clothes, music, or cars, it seems that what is old will always become new again given enough time.

Take the Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon, for example. Popularly dubbed the “Dad Wagon,” it was the subject of a lot of ridicule when it first came out… and for many, many years after.

Well, these babies are back on the road – thanks largely to millennials who are quite obviously digging them in a major way.

Hagerty Insurance reported an almost 50% increase in quotes for the vintage Buicks from 2017 to 2018, meaning that the Roadmaster Estate Wagon was the most requested car by 14 percentage points.

What??

The Roadmaster Estate Wagons were produced by Buick from 1991 until 1996, and they just scream 1990s style, don’t they? The Roadmaster Wagons are a whopping 18 feet long, can seat 8 people, and feature a sunroof, which we all need in our lives. But there’s another reason why these vehicles are appealing: under the hood is a 5.7-liter LT1 V8 engine that has 260 horsepower. That engine, by the way, is the same kind used in Corvettes, Camaros, and Firebird Trans-AMs.

The price tag is nice as well. The average listing price for a Roadmaster Wagon in the Kelley Blue Book is $2,990. Not bad, not bad at all.

Jonathan Klinger, a spokesperson for Hagerty, said, “It’s a fun way to stand out for not a whole lot of money. It’s like driving a couch down the road: Big comfy seats that lack any sort of real driver-oriented support, but they’re just cushy and comfortable. And with the V-8 engine, it’s got a little bit of sleeper status to it.”

What do you think? Are you going to run out and get your hands on one of these vintage beauties?

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Amsterdam Enacts a Ban on All Gas and Diesel Vehicles

Pollution is the global issue of our time, and around the world more and more cities are trying to take measures to reduce their carbon impact.

Most recently, the city of Amsterdam has taken a MAJOR step towards cleaner air: the Dutch city has announced that it is planning to phase out all gas and diesel vehicles by 2030.

Amsterdam’s traffic councillor recently said, “Pollution often is a silent killer and is one of the greatest health hazards in Amsterdam.” You might be surprised that such a world-renowned bike-friendly city (30% of Dutch commuters travel by bike) has such an awful pollution problem, but air pollution in the Netherlands is worse than European rules permit. This is mainly due to the heavy traffic in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

The city’s plan is to replace all gas and diesel engines with electric or hydrogen cars, or other emission-free alternatives, by 2030. The plan will begin next year when diesel engines built before 2005 will be banned from Amsterdam. The plan then calls for gradual banning of more vehicles from city streets.

The current levels of nitrogen dioxide and particle matter in Amsterdam’s air can cause respiratory illnesses and shorten life expectancy by more than a year. The city plans to get rid of public buses that run on gas by 2022, to increase the number of electrical charging stations to 23,000 by 2025, and to offer subsidies and special parking permits to encourage residents to make the switch to electric and hydrogen cars sooner than later. We all know how crucial a nice parking spot can be, right?

Hopefully, other cities around the globe will take note – and in fact Brussels, Belgium, is already looking to follow Amsterdam’s lead.

The post Amsterdam Enacts a Ban on All Gas and Diesel Vehicles appeared first on UberFacts.

Tumblr User Blows Everyone’s Mind with Post About a Horse’s Ass

What do a horse’s ass and a spaceship have in common? It’s definitely a question I’ve never once considered until today, because you wouldn’t tend to think they have anything in common.

But, it turns out I couldn’t be more wrong. Just follow along now.

It starts out simple enough…

Photo Credit: themattbusbyway

Indeed. Why WAS that gauge used? You’re about to find out…

Photo Credit: themattbusbyway

Get ready! You’re about to learn the wonders of wheel ruts!

Photo Credit: themattbusbyway

Of course the Romans were involved. Because they ran things back in the day.

Photo Credit: themattbusbyway

Now, the horses come in and it’s glorious…

Photo Credit: themattbusbyway

Trains and tunnels and rockets! Oh my!

Photo Credit: themattbusbyway

Well, my ass is officially astounded!

Photo Credit: themattbusbyway

Boom! Mind blown! ?

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Over a hundred years ago, virtually…

Over a hundred years ago, virtually every American city had public streetcars that people took to work. That includes cities we don’t think of as hubs for mass transit today, like Atlanta, Raleigh, and Los Angeles. Today, just 5 percent of U.S. workers commute via via public transit.

Brilliant Uber Driver Wins the Internet with Menu of 5 Different ‘Ride Types’

Uber has undeniably revolutionized the transportation business. One of my favorite aspects of Uber is the rating system, which lets drivers and passengers rate one another out of 5 stars.

One Uber driver recently went the extra mile to give his passengers more control over their ride experience. This was first brought to the world’s attention via Twitter user @LuisLovesGoats.

Photo Credit: Twitter

The options include: Stand Up, Silent Ride, Therapy Ride, Creepy Ride, and (surprisingly) Rude Ride.

Photo Credit: Twitter

Since Lui was feeling a little down that day, he chose the “Therapy Ride.” It wasn’t long before Lui’s tweets went viral.

Photo Credit: Twitter

Naturally, people absolutely loved it.

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

Sadly, Lui only had the driver’s first name (George) to go off of, and he had some difficulty getting in touch with him to let him know he’d gone viral. But, the internet being what it is, people eventually tracked him down.

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

George even got on Twitter himself to thank everyone.

Photo Credit: Twitter

Thanks to the exposure, George now has thousands of new followers, and he shared a clearer shot of his menu for people to enjoy:

Photo Credit: Twitter

He also added how humbling and enjoyable this entire experience has been.

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

If you’d like to show some love to George, you can hit up the GoFundMe he started to get an automatic car, since Seattle’s hilly terrain can be pretty rough on his transmission.

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