A hand raised parallel to the ground is a gesture with a rich history, one that became an international signal for hailing a taxi.
The tradition of raising a hand to hail a taxi came to Russia from Western countries, where the gesture had been used since the early 20th century. Originally in the Soviet Union, state-run taxis (recognizable by the distinctive green light on the roof) could be found at designated stands near train stations, hotels, and airports. Over time, however, it became possible to flag down a passing available taxi with a raised hand.
The gesture itself — an arm extended forward and raised to shoulder height — had several practical reasons behind it:
- Good visibility for the driver from a distance
- Distinctiveness from pedestrians' other random movements
- Universality and clarity across different countries
In the USSR, the gesture came with a certain etiquette: when raising a hand, a person was supposed to stand facing the road, without stepping onto it. In some cases, other signals were added to catch a driver's attention — a whistle or a short wave.
"Taxi drivers had their own special jargon: a 'green light' meant a free taxi, 'chessboard checkers' (the checkered stripe) meant a taxi in general, 'taxyor' meant the driver, and 'motor' and 'tachka' meant the car itself. For ordinary passengers, though, the universal language of gesture remained the same — the raised hand, understood by everyone."
Taxis in early-1990s Russia
By 1993, when the novel is set, the situation with taxis in Russia had changed radically. The collapse of the Soviet Union led to the breakdown of the state taxi-fleet system. Official taxis with green lights and checkered stripes became a rarity, replaced by "bombily" — private drivers moonlighting as unofficial cabbies.
The era of the "bombily" was marked by the following features:
- People from all sorts of professions took up private driving, often with no real connection to professional driving
- Fares were unregulated and set by negotiation
- No safety guarantees whatsoever for passengers
- A distinctive look among drivers — tracksuits instead of a professional uniform
- No taxi meters or receipts
In the early 1990s, a typical scene looked like this: a person raised a hand on the side of the road, several cars would stop (most often domestically produced — Zhigulis, Volgas, Moskviches), the drivers would ask where the passenger needed to go, name a price, and the passenger would pick whichever option suited them best.
Private drivers often staked out spots near train stations, airports, and markets, actively offering their services to arriving passengers. Informal taxi stands sprang up spontaneously near popular locations, each with its own unwritten rules.
Fun facts about 1990s taxis
- In the 1990s, in Russia's major cities, the number of unofficial "bombily" drivers exceeded the number of official taxis many times over
- Many drivers had a regular day job and "bombili" (moonlighted) after work or on weekends
- Superstitions were common among the "bombily": some refused to drive to certain neighborhoods, others wouldn't take a passenger for a "lucky" fare amount
- Unlike Soviet-era taxi drivers, who wore leather jackets and caps, a typical "bombila" of the 1990s preferred a tracksuit
- The most experienced "bombily" developed a particular instinct and could "scan" a potential customer at a glance
By the mid-1990s, a whole culture of private, unlicensed driving had taken shape, with its own unspoken rules, slang, and quirks. Despite lacking official status, many "bombily" considered themselves professionals and took pride in their ability to "hustle" amid difficult economic conditions.
The gesture itself — a hand raised parallel to the ground — kept its meaning regardless of changes in the taxi system. It remained a universal signal for hailing transport and is still used today, though it has gradually been fading with the rise of ride-hailing apps.