Feeling Fit? Do 30 Squats To Ride This MRT For Free
Rail authorities in Moscow are offering free train tickets to passengers who exercise in front of cleverly designed ticket vending machines.
By Judith Yeoh — 13 Nov 2013, 07:42 PM — Updated almost 11 years ago
A subway ticket machine that accepts exercise as payment has been introduced in Russia
Muscovites can now enjoy leg cramps as they ride their city’s metro, as Russia’s capital has launched a program where the normal 30-ruble fee ($0.92) has a second option: perform 30 squats in under two minutes.
medicaldaily.com
A first in public transport, the unconventional machine was installed at the Moscow subway station to promote the 2014 Winter Olympics to take place at Sochi, Russia.
ninemsn.com.au
The machine has proved popular in its first few days of operation with many taking up the challenge, as shown in footage posted to YouTube this week.
mirror.co.ukIt was installed on Friday in western Moscow as part of the government's attempt to promote a healthy lifestyle ahead of the Sochi Olympics in February
The machine looks something like an ATM, with a camera to track your movement and a screen to count each squat.
A thick blue runway extends from the bottom and ends up on two ghosted feet, where the hopeful traveler prays she doesn’t fail at 29 repetitions when the time expires.
elitedaily.com
However, only one station, Vystavochnaya, which is located in the city’s business district, allows riders to exercise as payment, RIA-Novosti reports. The other 189 locations still require actual money.
cbsnews.com
After an impressive performance by Russian gymnastic champion Yelena Zamolodchikova, others stumbled onto the circle marked on the floor to try it out. Here's what they said:
The task isn't so simple, according to some people who dared to try it out.
"It was hard at first but I managed it," Lyudmila, a young woman who tried out the machine, told AFP. "Two minutes is enough time."
viralviralvideos.com
“It is exciting. I don’t do enough sports during the day, I don’t move a lot. And here you can do gymnastics,” said Liza Zheratkova who tried her hand at the squats and won a free ticket.
globalnews.ca
Some visibly struggled, throwing their arms in front of them for balance before a crowd of staring journalists and bystanders who counted down the squats before the machine spat out a ticket.