Car and driver in Moscow

	VIDEO
CNN's Jill Dougherty braves the increasingly crowded streets of Moscow. Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K

Russian capital pays the price for more autos

May 23, 2000
Web posted at: 5:56 p.m. EDT (0056 GMT)

From Moscow Bureau Chief Jill Dougherty

MOSCOW (CNN) -- One of the most significant global changes of the last decade was the collapse of the Soviet Union and the birth of Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

But the coming of capitalism to the former communist state brought with it some of the problems of the capitalist world -- particularly the dirty air that comes with the increase in automobiles on Russia's streets.

Ten years ago, Moscow had 700,000 vehicles. That number has exploded to 2.5 million now -- 800 vehicles per day are being added to the roll, and many of Moscow's cars have been on the road for 30 years.

Old cars, too many cars -- it's a recipe that spells pollution with a capital "P."

Still, the dirty air doesn't stop everybody. Some people are just too happy to be behind the wheel of their own car.

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