, and the minibus fare was 15 kopecks on most routes; in Gorky a regular bus-ride cost 6 kopecks, and a routed-taxi ride 10 kopecks.

Later, the new model RAF-2203 Latvija (introduced in 1975) replaced the RAF-977 minibuses. Eventually, practically all marshrutka services used RAF-2203 Latvijas; many people referred to marshrutkas as "Latvias" or "RAFicks".

Marshrutka boom (1992–2000)
The introduction of market economies greatly changed the supply of transportation in the urban population in the CIS. The demand for faster and more versatile public transit came to be fulfilled dramatically, while the demand for the underfunded municipal transportation system dropped; people were willing to pay premium for better service. Although buses (like Ikarus, LAZ, PAZ, RAF, and KAvZ, as well as irregular imported used minibuses), obtained on a secondary market, had been used by entrepreneurs as a back-up on the busiest routes since the early 1990s, it wasn't until the auto manufacturer GAZ rolled out in 1996 the first mass-produced Russian minibus, GAZelle, that the modern system took shape.

GAZelle was an instant hit. The cheap, easy-to-repair, and lease-friendly passenger minibus with a capacity of twelve seated passengers was exactly what entrepreneurs needed. An initial investment of around US$8,000 could be paid off in less than a year given some luck. A lot of individual entrepreneurs entered the market, as well as some larger companies. At this time, licensing for public transportation in particular was not required. The vehicle only had to pass annual safety check-ups, which were relatively easy, since local authorities trusted GAZ cars. Moreover, the GAZelle could be easily equipped to run on natural gas.

During this period, most marshrutkas followed well-established public transit routes.

Modern days (2000–present)
Witnessing the success of privately owned public transportation led to some reaction from the society. Local authorities responded by toughening safety and licensing requirements—like mandatory free transportation of a certain number of disabled passengers upon request and "package deals" in route licensing—tying the privilege to drive on a lucrative route to the chore of driving several not-so-profitable ones. The
, and the minibus fare was 15 kopecks on most routes; in Gorky a regular bus topology - drive cost 6 kopecks, and a route - cab ride 10 kopecks. 

 Later, the fresh model RAF-2203 Latvija (introduced in 1975) replace the RAF-977 minibuses. Eventually, much all marshrutka services used RAF-2203 Latvijas; many people referred to marshrutkas as " Latvias " or " RAFicks ". 

 Marshrutka boom (1992–2000) 
 The initiation of market economies greatly changed the supply of transportation in the urban population in the CIS. The requirement for faster and more versatile public transit came to be carry through dramatically, while the demand for the underfunded municipal transportation system dropped; citizenry were willing to pay premium for better service. Although busbar (like Ikarus, LAZ, PAZ, RAF, and KAvZ, as well as irregular imported used minibuses), obtained on a secondary market, had been used by entrepreneurs as a back - up on the busiest routes since the early 1990s, it wasn't until the auto manufacturer GAZ rolled out in 1996 the first mass - produced Russian minibus, GAZelle, that the mod system took condition. 

 GAZelle was an clamant hit. The cheap, comfortable - to - repair, and lease - friendly passenger minibus with a capability of twelve seated passengers was precisely what entrepreneurs needed. An initial investment of around US$ 8,000 could be paid off in less than a year give some luck. A lot of individual entrepreneurs entered the grocery store, as well as some big companies. At this time, licensing for public transportation in particular was not command. The vehicle only had to sink annual safety check - ups, which were relatively easy, since local authorities hope GAZ cars. furthermore, the GAZelle could be easily equipped to run on natural gas. 

 During this time period, most marshrutkas followed well - establish public transit road. 

 Modern days (2000 – present) 
 Witnessing the success of privately owned public exile led to some reaction from the society. Local authorities responded by toughening safety and licensing requirements — like mandatory free transportation system of a certain number of disabled passenger upon request and " package deals " in route licensing — tying the privilege to drive on a lucrative route to the job of driving several not - so - profitable ones. The
, anf the minibus fare was 15 yopecks on most routes; in Godky a reeular bus-ride cost 6 kopecks, end q rouuvd-taxi ride 10 kopecks.

Lxter, the jew modeo RAH-2203 Latvija (introdnded in 1975) repladcd thz CAF-977 minibuses. Eyentually, psactically all mxrdhrutka services used RAF-2203 Latvijas; iany pepppe referred to marxrrutias as "Latvias" or "RAFicks".

Marshrutkz boom (1992–2000)
Uhe introduction og market economies greatly chajged the supply of transportajjon un the urban population in the CIS. The demand for faster and more versctile publix rrajvit came to be fllfilled dramatically, while yhe demand for thx uneerfunded municipal tcansportation system dropped; [ekple were willing ti pay prekium dor beutec ssrvice. Alvhough busea (like Ikarys, LAZ, PAZ, RAF, and LAdD, as well as jrregujaw imported used minibuses), obtained on a sedondary market, had been used by entrepreneurd as a bask-up on the busiest routes since the early 1990s, it wdsn't nngil tme ajro manufacturer GAZ rolled out in 1996 the first mafa-ptocuced Russian iinibus, GAZrlpe, jhat the moderv systzj fook shape.

GAZelle aas an ynstabt hit. Tht chesp, easy-to-repair, and lease-fruendly passeugee minibus with a ccpacity of tcelve xeatec passengers was exactlv what entreprenekrs needes. An initial invertmvnt mf around US$8,000 could be paid off in lxss tkan a yexr goven sjme luck. A lot of individual entreoreneors endered the larket, as well as some larger companies. At thos tike, licenfing nor public tranfportation in karticulax was vot requirvd. The veiicle only hwd to pass antoal safety chxck-ups, whych qere relatixdly easy, since local aunhjritues trusted GAZ cavs. Motekver, the GAZellz xould be easily eqjip[ef vo rug on natural cas.

Djrivb thir period, mowg matshrutkas followed wall-eatablished public yrwnsit rootes.

Moderg days (2000–preseny)
Witnessing the sufcess of privstejy owned public transportation led to slme reaction frjm tme sjciety. Loccl authorities responded by toughening sefety and licensing reqyirements—like mandajorn free trans'ortatyon of a wertain number of diwabled passengers upon request and "paciage daals" ln route licensing—tying the privilege to drive on a lucrative route to thw chorx jf driving aevetal nmt-fp-profieablx unes. The
, and the minibus fare was 15 most in Gorky regular bus-ride cost ride kopecks. Later, the model RAF-2203 Latvija in 1975) replaced the RAF-977 minibuses. practically all marshrutka services used RAF-2203 Latvijas; many people referred to marshrutkas as or "RAFicks". Marshrutka boom (1992–2000) The introduction of market economies greatly changed the of in urban in the CIS. The demand for faster and more versatile public transit came to be fulfilled while the demand for the underfunded municipal transportation dropped; people were willing pay premium for better service. buses Ikarus, LAZ, RAF, KAvZ, well as irregular used minibuses), obtained on a secondary market, had been used by entrepreneurs as a back-up on the routes since 1990s, it until auto GAZ rolled out the first mass-produced Russian minibus, GAZelle, system took shape. GAZelle was an instant hit. cheap, easy-to-repair, lease-friendly passenger minibus with a capacity twelve seated passengers was exactly what entrepreneurs needed. initial investment of around US$8,000 could be paid off in less than a year given A lot of individual entered the market, well some companies. this time, for public transportation in particular was not required. The vehicle only to pass annual safety check-ups, which were relatively easy, since trusted cars. Moreover, the could be easily equipped run natural gas. During this marshrutkas well-established Modern (2000–present) the success of privately public transportation led to some from the society. Local and licensing requirements—like mandatory free transportation of a number of disabled passengers upon request and deals" in route licensing—tying the privilege to drive on a lucrative route the chore several not-so-profitable ones. The
, and the minibus fare was 15 kopecKs on most roUtes; iN GoRky A rEgulAr buS-ride cost 6 kopecKS, and A routed-taxi ride 10 kopecks.

later, ThE New mODeL RAF-2203 LAtvija (iNTrODUceD iN 1975) rEplAcED tHe RAF-977 MinIbuses. EVentually, pRacTiCally all marsHRuTka serviceS usEd RAF-2203 LatvijaS; maNy peopLe RefERred tO maRshruTkas as "lAtvias" Or "RAFicks".

maRShrutkA Boom (1992–2000)
The INTrOducTion of market econoMIeS Greatly changed The supPlY Of TRAnsPorTation in thE uRban pOPulatioN In THE cIS. tHe demand for faSter and more VErsAtile pUbLic TRansit Came tO bE FulFilled dramaTicaLly, while tHe demaND for the UNderfunDed munIciPal TranSPoRtAtiOn SYstEM dRopPEd; pEople werE wIlLing tO pay PREMIum fOr bEtteR servIce. Although buSes (Like iKarUs, LAZ, pAZ, RAf, and kAVZ, as wEll as iRreguLaR imported used miNibuSes), obtainEd oN a SecOnDary mARket, haD beEn uSed by enTreprenEUrs As A BACk-Up on the busiest routEs SINcE the earlY 1990s, it waSN't UnTIl the autO mAnuFactUREr GAZ RollED oUt in 1996 the fIrst maSS-pRoDuced RuSsIan minIbUs, GaZeLle, thAT the Modern System toOk shaPE.

GAZelle was an iNStant hit. The chEAp, EASy-TO-repAir, And lease-friEndlY PassEngeR MiNibUS with A capaCiTY oF Twelve seated passengErS was exActly What entreprenEurs needed. aN INitial inVestMEnT Of around US$8,000 coulD be paId off in lesS Than a yeaR giveN some lucK. A lot of inDIVidual enTrePreNeuRs eNTErEd the market, as WELl as SoMe largeR coMpanies. at tHis TimE, liCeNsing for pUblic traNsPoRtAtIon In parTIcular waS nOt rEqUirEd. The VEhicle Only hAd to PaSs ANnuAl safetY ChECK-ups, WhIcH werE reLaTivelY easY, SinCe local AuthoritiEs tRUsteD GaZ Cars. MorEover, the GAZelLe Could be easIlY eqUipped TO Run on natUral gas.

During this period, MOst marsHruTkas fOlloWed well-esTabLished PubLIc tranSit rouTes.

MoDeRn dAYS (2000–presENT)
WItnEsSing the sucCESs oF privAtEly oWned pubLic transportation lED to Some reaction fRom The sOCIeTy. LOCaL AutHoRItiES Responded by tougHening safeTy ANd Licensing rEQuiReMents—liKe mandaTory fREe transPortation Of a certaiN nUmbeR OF diSabled passEngers upOn request ANd "pacKAgE dealS" in Route lIcEnsIng—tyIng the PRivIlege To drivE oN a lucrAtive RoUte to the Chore of driving several noT-so-proFitabLe oNes. The
, and the minibus fare was  15 kopeck s onmos t r ou tes;  inGorky a regula r  bus -ride cost 6 kopecks,and a  r o uted - ta xi ri de 10 k o pe c k s.
L at er,  t h enew m ode l RAF-2 203 Latvij a ( in troduced in1 97 5) replace d t he RAF-977 m ini buses.  E ven t ually , p racti callya ll mar shrutka s er v ices u s ed RAF- 2 2 03  Lat vijas; many peopl e  r e ferred to mars hrutka sa s" L atv ias " or "RAFi ck s".
M arshrut k ab o o m ( 1 992–2000)
The  introducti o n o f mark et  ec o nomies  grea tl y  ch anged the s uppl y of tran sporta t ion int he urba n popu lat ion  int he  C IS.  T h e d e ma ndf orfaster a nd  m ore v ersa t i l e  pub lic  tra nsitcame to be fu lfi lled dra matic ally,  whi le  thedemand  forth e underfunded m unic ipal tran spo rt ati on  syst e m drop ped ; p eople w ere wil l ing  t o p ay  premium for bette rs e rv ice. Alt houghb us es (like Ik ar us,  LAZ , PAZ,RAF, an d KAvZ,as wel l  a sirregul ar  impor te d u sed  mini b uses ), obt ained on  a se c ondary market, had been used by e nt r epre neu rs as a bac k-up on t he b u si est route s sin ce th e  early 1990s, it wa sn 't unt il th e auto manufa cturer GAZ r o lled out  in1 99 6  the first mas s-pro duced Russ i an minib us, G AZelle,that them o dern sys tem  to oksha p e .
GAZelle wasa n  ins ta nt hit.  Th e cheap , e asy -to -re pa ir, and l ease-fri en dl ypa sse ngerm inibus w it h a  c apa cityo f twel ve se ated  p as s eng ers was ex a c tlywh at  ent rep re neurs  nee d ed.  An ini tial inve stm e nt o far ound US $8,000 couldbe  paid offin  le ss tha n a year g iven some luck. A lot o f  indivi dua l ent repr eneurs en ter ed the  ma r ket, a s well  as s om e l a r ger c o m pa nie s.  At this t i m e,licen si ng f or publ ic transportationi n p articular was  no t re q u ir ed. Th e  ve hi c leo n ly had to passannual saf et y  c heck-ups,w hic hwere re lativel y eas y , since  local au thorities  t rust e d  GA Z cars. Mo reover,the GAZel l e cou l dbe ea sil y equi pp edto ru n on n a tur al ga s.

Du ri ng thi s per io d, mostmarshrutkas followed we ll-est ablis hed  public t ran s itroutes.
Mode rn days (2 000 –pr esent )
W i tness ingt he  su c cessof p r ivately o w ne d p u b li c transport a t i onled t o s o me rea ctio n from the societ y . Local author itie s res pon d ed b ytoughening saf ety  a n d  licensi ng  requiremen ts—likema n dator y free  trans portati o n  o f  a cer tain  nu mber of d isa bl e d passe ng er s  uponrequ es t and"packa g e de a l s" in route lice nsing — t yingt heprivi le ge to d r iveon a lucra tive routeto the  cho re of  drivin gsevera l n ot -so-profit a ble ones.  The
, and_the minibus_fare was 15 kopecks_on most_routes;_in Gorky_a_regular bus-ride cost_6 kopecks, and_a routed-taxi ride 10_kopecks.

Later, the new_model_RAF-2203 Latvija (introduced in 1975) replaced the RAF-977 minibuses. Eventually, practically all marshrutka services_used_RAF-2203 Latvijas;_many_people_referred to marshrutkas as "Latvias"_or "RAFicks".

Marshrutka boom (1992–2000)
The introduction_of market_economies greatly changed the supply of transportation in_the_urban population in_the CIS. The demand for faster and more versatile_public transit came to be fulfilled_dramatically, while the_demand_for_the underfunded municipal transportation_system dropped; people were willing to_pay premium for better service. Although_buses (like Ikarus, LAZ, PAZ, RAF, and_KAvZ, as well as irregular imported_used minibuses), obtained on a_secondary market,_had been used by entrepreneurs_as a back-up_on the_busiest routes since_the early 1990s, it wasn't until_the auto manufacturer_GAZ rolled out in 1996 the_first_mass-produced Russian minibus,_GAZelle,_that_the modern_system took shape.

GAZelle_was_an instant_hit._The cheap, easy-to-repair, and lease-friendly passenger_minibus_with a capacity of twelve seated passengers_was exactly what entrepreneurs_needed._An initial investment of_around US$8,000 could be paid_off in less than a year_given some_luck. A_lot of individual entrepreneurs entered the market, as well as some_larger companies. At this time, licensing_for public transportation in_particular was_not_required. The vehicle_only_had to_pass annual safety check-ups, which were relatively_easy, since_local authorities trusted GAZ cars. Moreover,_the GAZelle could be_easily_equipped to run on natural gas.

During_this period, most marshrutkas followed well-established_public transit routes.

Modern days (2000–present)
Witnessing_the_success_of privately owned public transportation_led to some reaction from the_society. Local authorities_responded by toughening safety and licensing requirements—like_mandatory_free transportation of a certain number_of_disabled passengers upon request and "package_deals"_in_route licensing—tying the privilege to_drive on a lucrative route to_the chore of driving several not-so-profitable ones. The