How the first taxi appeared in Ivano-Frankivsk – a fascinating history of the city

Today, every citizen of Ivano-Frankivsk can easily order a car with just a few clicks on their smartphone. However, a taxi ride was a privilege available only to the wealthy a hundred years ago. From one-horse fiacres and the first “self-propelled vehicles” of old Stanislaviv to online taxi services, we tell the story of taxis in the city.

A change of era: the transition from Fiacars to cars

Before cars appeared in Stanislaviv, people used horses for private transportation. Fiacre taxis usually waited for customers near restaurants, hotels, or the palace. However, fiacre rides were not affordable for everyone because of the high prices, which changed frequently and could be as high as 60 cents, equivalent to 150 hryvnias today. Prices also increased during the holidays. The city government tried to regulate fares and organize parking spaces for the Fiskars, but the carriers often protested.

Citizens complained about the quality of service, dirt in the face, the unkempt appearance of the drivers, refusal to take orders far from the city center, and overpricing. The number of fakers in the city was high, leading to fierce competition and poor customer service.

One newspaper described a situation where several drivers were fighting for a customer covered by packages, which led to his wife being left in the far without him. This only increased the residents’ indignation.
They were also concerned about the treatment of horses, which often suffered from exploitation.
The Society for the Protection of Animals tried to influence this situation. In 1912, they got the magistrate to pass a resolution requiring drivers to have a plate with a number on their fiacres to control their behavior.

However, horses became a thing of the past as the time for cars came. Everyone realized that the future belonged to motorized vehicles.
Cars on the streets of Frankivsk

The first cars appeared on the cobblestone streets of Stanyslaviv in the early twentieth century, capturing the attention of citizens and causing excitement and anxiety for some. At that time, only a few people could afford them: Count Wojciech Diduszycki, Baron Karol Ripp, and successful manufacturers Filip Liberman and Jakub Margoshes were among the first car owners in the city. Interestingly, one of the first car owners in the town was Karol Ripp, who was known for his passion for fast driving and sports cars. The city government tried to regulate fares and organize parking spaces for the Fiskars, but the carriers often protested.
In the process, the number of cars gradually increased, and the community began to believe that they were moving through the streets too fast.

The first taxi service

The opening of the first taxi service in Stanislaviv was characterized by its unrivaled uniqueness. Under Vladyslav Sivinskyi’s leadership, the first taxi service became a real innovation in the city. The introduction of day and night tariffs, a simple ordering number, and the integration of a taximeter all demonstrated a desire to progress and improve the comfort and accessibility of transportation for residents.

Even in today’s reality, the story of this first taxi service remains exceptional. Its contribution to urban infrastructure development and transportation culture was enormous and invaluable. It was a business venture and a true mission of convenience and progress.

Earlier, it was published that Ivano-Frankivsk celebrated City Day on May 7, 362 years after the city received the Magdeburg Law.