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Author Topic: Driving from Kiev to Kryvyi Rih/Krivoy Rog  (Read 8857 times)

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Offline Strider

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Re: Driving from Kiev to Kryvyi Rih/Krivoy Rog
« Reply #25 on: March 06, 2019, 12:23:14 AM »
So, traveling midweek, I had only one other person sharing the cabin.  She was in her mid thirties, her husband (apparently) saw her off, and I had no conversation the whole trip.  I few nips of some cherry liquor and I had a pleasant journey.  (The poor woman probably had to listen to me snore...)  I arrived in Kryvyi Rih in the early AM, and decided to walk to the hotel.  I saw many stray dogs along the way.  The lack of scheduled international flights to the airport and the lack of a port aren't the only reasons Kryvyi Rih won't be competing with Acapulco for tourists any time soon.

This post was composed without the aid of MSN.
« Last Edit: March 06, 2019, 12:26:26 AM by Strider »
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Offline LAman

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Re: Driving from Kiev to Kryvyi Rih/Krivoy Rog
« Reply #26 on: March 06, 2019, 08:38:03 AM »

   I arrived in Kryvyi Rih in the early AM, and decided to walk to the hotel.  I saw many stray dogs along the way.  The lack of scheduled international flights to the airport and the lack of a port aren't the only reasons Kryvyi Rih won't be competing with Acapulco for tourists any time soon.



Did you have some sort of expectations? It's a shithole, along with a few other cities I would rather not visit. Driving through the only exception.
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Offline Strider

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Re: Driving from Kiev to Kryvyi Rih/Krivoy Rog
« Reply #27 on: March 08, 2019, 03:47:57 AM »
Did you have some sort of expectations? It's a shithole, along with a few other cities I would rather not visit. Driving through the only exception.

Well, I had been through it before.  It is an industrial mining town that has seen better days, and there could be some air pollution issues, but I didn't notice anything.  Being the 7th largest city in Ukraine, it has a university, and other educational institutions.  There are a few restaurants, including two McDonald's, and an American styled restaurant Melrose in a theater complex which also has an ice skating rink and bowling alley.  (The name may come from the Melrose Dinner in Philadelphia.)  I've been in other places in Ukraine that have less to offer in the food and entertainment regard than Kryvy Rig.

I did take a mini-bus/mashrutka back to Kiev.  It took a direct route back by way of H23 to Kropyvnytskyi, which was as bad as I had remembered the roads in the area.  The driver frequently had to cross into the lane for opposing traffic or go far onto the shoulder to avoid the craters.  The further from a populated area or village, the worse the road was, especially at the bottom of hills or crossing waterways.  One truck was broken down along the way, possibly fixing a flat tire, and I saw two road crews at work, one of which was clearly pissing into the wind considering how cratered the road was.  From Kropyvnytskyi to Smila on H14 and H01 the road was surprisingly very good.  (H01 runs  from near Oleksandrivka to Smila.)  In Smila itself the road was crap.   Then the rest of the way from Smila to Cherkassy, the road was OK to poor with potholes.  The bridge over the Dnieper was good.  The roads from the bridge to Boryspol (H08) were also OK to poor in spots. 

For anyone considering renting a car in Ukraine, I would recommend that you consider the wheels and tires on the rental vehicle carefully.  The thin tires common on modern cars, especially economy vehicles popular at airport car rentals, are not a good match for Ukraine's poor roadways.  Looking at what is on the roads, a larger, fatter tire is more desirable as it is better able to flex and absorb the shock of potholes. 
« Last Edit: March 08, 2019, 03:53:22 AM by Strider »
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Offline LAman

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Re: Driving from Kiev to Kryvyi Rih/Krivoy Rog
« Reply #28 on: March 08, 2019, 08:52:14 AM »
What was the time in getting back to Kiev using bus as compared to using train?
Doesn't sound inviting to be in a mashrutka for long periods of time.

If I was to go KR, I would take IC train to Dnipro and bus to KR, the road is pretty good from Dnipro.


I still think Donetsk is larger city than KR. ( so maybe 8th largest).
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Offline Strider

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Re: Driving from Kiev to Kryvyi Rih/Krivoy Rog
« Reply #29 on: March 08, 2019, 09:32:55 AM »
What was the time in getting back to Kiev using bus as compared to using train?

About eight hours.  Some trains are faster, most take longer, and the schedule isn't nearly as convenient.  It took a little longer as we arrived back around the evening rush hour.  In addition to carrying passengers, it also serves as a delivery service between the two cities.  So, the driver stops at places to wait for a drop off or pick up.  In a pinch, it is possible to get anywhere in Ukraine by a relay of mashrutkas.  They can be faster than the trains.

Doesn't sound inviting to be in a mashrutka for long periods of time.
If I was to go KR, I would take IC train to Dnipro and bus to KR, the road is pretty good from Dnipro.

Well, the mashrutka made two ten minute rest stops along the way.  It wasn't bad, and it wasn't crowded either.  Taking the train to Dnipro and then a bus might be longer.

I still think Donetsk is larger city than KR. ( so maybe 8th largest).

Donetsk was fifth, well ahead of Zaporizhia and Lviv, but it may be shrinking due to the "Troubles".
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Offline LAman

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Re: Driving from Kiev to Kryvyi Rih/Krivoy Rog
« Reply #30 on: March 08, 2019, 09:56:41 AM »
About eight hours.  Some trains are faster, most take longer, and the schedule isn't nearly as convenient.  It took a little longer as we arrived back around the evening rush hour.  In addition to carrying passengers, it also serves as a delivery service between the two cities.  So, the driver stops at places to wait for a drop off or pick up.  In a pinch, it is possible to get anywhere in Ukraine by a relay of mashrutkas.  They can be faster than the trains.

 


I guess time would be similar bus KR-Kiev vs bus to Dnipro +IC train to Kiev.

But you can't beat the relaxing comfy trip on an IC train, chose a seat, walk around, use bathroom. And NO potholes!! And definitely in winter use train!!!
Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift

Offline Strider

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Re: Driving from Kiev to Kryvyi Rih/Krivoy Rog
« Reply #31 on: March 08, 2019, 10:09:39 AM »
I guess time would be similar bus KR-Kiev vs bus to Dnipro +IC train to Kiev.
But you can't beat the relaxing comfy trip on an IC train, chose a seat, walk around, use bathroom. And NO potholes!! And definitely in winter use train!!!

Today is a national holiday, and that meant the trains were all booked solid.  I prefer to travel by train as well, but the schedule frequently isn't convenient.  The worst luck I had on a train was in Poland when I was on a train that killed someone in what was an apparent suicide by train.  It was just a few miles from the station, and people had to call for rides while the police investigated and recovered the body.  Ride enough trains, and the unexpected happens.
"It's by talking nonsense that one gets to the truth!"
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Offline LAman

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Re: Driving from Kiev to Kryvyi Rih/Krivoy Rog
« Reply #32 on: March 08, 2019, 11:33:43 AM »
Today is a national holiday, and that meant the trains were all booked solid.   

So , how many roses were you giving out for Woman's Day????

I would be a poor man if I was in Ukraine today. I would need be in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Odessa and Kharkiv!!!!! With lots of expectations!! ))))
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Offline JayH

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Re: Driving from Kiev to Kryvyi Rih/Krivoy Rog
« Reply #33 on: March 08, 2019, 03:09:08 PM »
Did you have some sort of expectations? It's a shithole, along with a few other cities I would rather not visit. Driving through the only exception.

I know the city extremely well ( yes LAman --much better that you and internet comments) and do not agree with that assessment at all)  Strider  gives  a fairly incomplete summary that differs too.

The city is very strung out -long and relatively thin -- and I am not too sure how anyone could see much unless driving themselves--  or spending a fortune on taxis !


I did take a mini-bus/mashrutka back to Kiev.  It took a direct route back by way of H23 to Kropyvnytskyi, which was as bad as I had remembered the roads in the area.  The driver frequently had to cross into the lane for opposing traffic or go far onto the shoulder to avoid the craters.  The further from a populated area or village, the worse the road was, especially at the bottom of hills or crossing waterways.  One truck was broken down along the way, possibly fixing a flat tire, and I saw two road crews at work, one of which was clearly pissing into the wind considering how cratered the road was.  From Kropyvnytskyi to Smila on H14 and H01 the road was surprisingly very good.  (H01 runs  from near Oleksandrivka to Smila.)  In Smila itself the road was crap.   Then the rest of the way from Smila to Cherkassy, the road was OK to poor with potholes.  The bridge over the Dnieper was good.  The roads from the bridge to Boryspol (H08) were also OK to poor in spots. 

For anyone considering renting a car in Ukraine, I would recommend that you consider the wheels and tires on the rental vehicle carefully.  The thin tires common on modern cars, especially economy vehicles popular at airport car rentals, are not a good match for Ukraine's poor roadways.  Looking at what is on the roads, a larger, fatter tire is more desirable as it is better able to flex and absorb the shock of potholes. 

That is basically the shortest( or close to it) route  but   as you saw it has it's problems -- particularly at this time of the year ( see earlier comments I made  about road repairs   & seasons ) . The bridge over the Dnieper  at Cherkasy  has recently seen the road surface rebuilt and the bridge was closed numerous times over the last 2 years while work was in progress ( for months at one stage) and it was not unusual to be held for an hour or so even when partially opened. The road from there to Kyiv is a good example of my comments about changing conditions --  now at the end of winter -- I would be lucky to average 80kmh -- while later in the year( say Autumn)  after the holes are substantially filled it would be 100kmh average  with relatively minimal effort>

On driving generally -- it requires 100% concentration   at all times -- the road conditions need constant adjustment to read --and if you are not a competent driver then do not even consider it.
As for comments on tyres --mmm -- while true low profile tyres are more susceptible to tyre and rim damage -it is only part of the issue. I have found that smaller agile car can be much faster even over some of what appears the worst of roads as it stops quicker,turns quicker  and is generally more precise. My comments are not made from one exposure -- but I have driven many thousands of kms all over Ukraine and Crimea.
Some of the roads mentioned here more than 50 times( maybe hundreds !)
Striders comments on roads -- state very correctly some of the issues -- but -- it is far worse than most of you can imagine.
SLAVA UKRAYINI  ! HEROYAM SLAVA!!!!
Слава Украине! Слава героям слава!Слава Україні! Слава героям!
 translated as: Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!!!  is a Ukrainian greeting slogan being used now all over Ukraine to signify support for a free independent Ukraine

Offline JayH

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Re: Driving from Kiev to Kryvyi Rih/Krivoy Rog
« Reply #34 on: March 08, 2019, 03:24:04 PM »
What was the time in getting back to Kiev using bus as compared to using train?
Doesn't sound inviting to be in a mashrutka for long periods of time.

If I was to go KR, I would take IC train to Dnipro and bus to KR, the road is pretty good from Dnipro.


I still think Donetsk is larger city than KR. ( so maybe 8th largest).
What was the time in getting back to Kiev using bus as compared to using train?
Doesn't sound inviting to be in a mashrutka for long periods of time.

If I was to go KR, I would take IC train to Dnipro and bus to KR, the road is pretty good from Dnipro.



I guess time would be similar bus KR-Kiev vs bus to Dnipro +IC train to Kiev.

But you can't beat the relaxing comfy trip on an IC train, chose a seat, walk around, use bathroom. And NO potholes!! And definitely in winter use train!!!

I cannot imagine how uncomfortable Strider's bus ride was !
Taking the bus to Dnipro and then train    could not be that much longer surely! The road fron KR to Dnipro would be ok in a bus,

It is a good example of where shortest km is not best,

That also applies to the drive -- route taken by Strider bus  is  about 200 kms shorter than if you drove Kyiv-Dnipro-KR but roads much better and safer -- and elapsed time would not be much different .
SLAVA UKRAYINI  ! HEROYAM SLAVA!!!!
Слава Украине! Слава героям слава!Слава Україні! Слава героям!
 translated as: Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!!!  is a Ukrainian greeting slogan being used now all over Ukraine to signify support for a free independent Ukraine

Offline JayH

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Re: Driving from Kiev to Kryvyi Rih/Krivoy Rog
« Reply #35 on: March 08, 2019, 03:28:54 PM »
So , how many roses were you giving out for Woman's Day????

I would be a poor man if I was in Ukraine today. I would need be in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Odessa and Kharkiv!!!!! With lots of expectations!! ))))

Not being there is not going to be an excuse ! 
You will need photos of you in hospital bed in traction if you want to avoid the consequences ! ;D

btw are you channelling the Krymster with your multiple "locations" ! ;D
SLAVA UKRAYINI  ! HEROYAM SLAVA!!!!
Слава Украине! Слава героям слава!Слава Україні! Слава героям!
 translated as: Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!!!  is a Ukrainian greeting slogan being used now all over Ukraine to signify support for a free independent Ukraine

Offline msmob

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Re: Driving from Kiev to Kryvyi Rih/Krivoy Rog
« Reply #36 on: April 05, 2019, 01:04:58 AM »
So , how many roses were you giving out for Woman's Day????

I would be a poor man if I was in Ukraine today. I would need be in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Odessa and Kharkiv!!!!! With lots of expectations!! ))))

Just read this...

Anyone else thinking the same ?


Online Hammer2722

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Re: Driving from Kiev to Kryvyi Rih/Krivoy Rog
« Reply #37 on: April 05, 2019, 10:35:21 AM »
Just read this...

Anyone else thinking the same ?

Yup!  ;)
every ship can be a minesweeper at least once...

 

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