Russian Cars

Nowhere else in the world can you find the different types of cars you find here in Russia. During communist times, the USSR exported some of their Ladas to Europe, Africa, South America, and even Canada. The cars were often re-exported back to the USSR because there was a demand for what was conventionally thought to be a better made export-ready car. Today, many of these junkers, including the domestic version of the Lada (the Zhigouli) are still spattering around this city, fuming at rates that I am sure exceed even a minimum EPA standard from the 1990 Clean Air Act.
Ownership of a car is a status symbol here. To own a car is a privilege, and it's easy to see why not having to rely on the sometimes sketchy Marschrutki, the slow busses, the cavernous metro, or the non-existent tram system is advantageous. But car ownership here is rising. I wish I had access to some of my resources at work to get actual numbers. Also, a number of big auto deals were signed at this year's Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, and this city is fast becoming the Detroit of Russia. I want to write about a couple other points:

1. On some of these older cars, they have these little metal static protectors that run from the chassis to the ground. (See the slideshow and you'll see what I mean). I guess if enough electricity builds up in the body it can short circuit it? I really don't know.
2. I really think the cars are designed with more sensitive security systems. Anytime a motorcycle goes by at least one car alarm goes off for about 2 minutes and then stops.
3. When locking these cars the security systems make the most awful Bleep-Bleep-Bleep that for some reason people like to do it over and over and over again.
4. Honestly I think that people speed up when they see pedestrians crossing the road where crossings are unmarked
   
5. There are no posted speed limits in this city that I've ever seen.
   
6. You can actually buy 76 octane gasoline here. Simply put, the higher the octane, the higher the temperature (and the more efficiently) your motor can work. When the price of this gasoline is half the price of 85 or 88 octane gasoline, you can imagine what people might be encouraged to buy. I've figured out that 85 octane gasoline here is actually around $2.70 per gallon, but that's still about half of what it costs in the rest of Europe.
   
7. So, with no speed limits, universal construction, few street signs, and your typical New York cabbie driving all the little Marschrutki, you can imagine how this would not be the safest place to be a pedestrian.