Unexpected Outcome of Tallinn’s Free Public Transit Policy
Free Rides, Rising Car Use: A Paradox in Public Transport Policy

© Transly Translation Agency / Unsplash

In the past decade, some cities have considered or adopted fare-free public transit to aid low-income residents and cut emissions. This follows Tallinn, Estonia’s example, which has offered free public transit to residents since 2013, aiming to support lower-income residents affected by the 2008 financial crisis while charging non-residents. This strategy was not only...

Luxembourg public transport is now free, but at what cost?
Mobility Minister François Bausch says "The government wants Luxembourg to become a laboratory for mobility"

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Luxembourg is the first country in the world to make all public transport free starting March 1, 2020. Passengers can now hop on and off buses, trams, and trains without needing to validate passes, cards, or tickets. Exceptions are tickets and passes for first class train travel, which remain valid and keep the same...

Professional fare dodgers advocating free public transport in Stockholm, Sweden
Planka.nu has developed a financial model which pays for the fines of its members since its inception in 2001

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Through its radical approach, the Swedish campaign group Planka.nu (roughly translated as ‘free ride now’) puts pressure on the local authorities to create a toll-free public transport system. The group’s members, which count around 500 persons, benefit from professional advice on tactics they can use to avoid paying ticket fares or being caught by...

Sweden’s Vasttrafik gives out free passes to encourage use of public transport
The passes, valid for a two-week period on buses, ferries, and trams are handed out in the framework of a large outreach campaign

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In Gothenburg, Sweden, the regional transport agency Vasttrafik recently gave away 30.000 free passes to encourage residents to make more use of public transport. The passes were handed out part of a large outreach campaign, one of the many the company has commissioned in the last years to raise awareness about the advantages of...

Study concludes free public transport in Lyon, France unsustainable
Lyon's transit network is significantly larger than that of cities like Dunkirk where public transport is free

Subway station in Lyon

A recent study commissioned by France’s second largest public transport operator SYTRAL has concluded that switching to a ticket-free scheme on Lyon’s TCL network would be financially unsustainable and would jeopardise the development of the network on the long-term.  According to the press release issued by SYTRAL, free service would reduce certain operating expenses such...

Luxembourg, the first country to have free public transport?
The governments seeks to reduce traffic congestion and preserve the environment

Free public transport in Luxembourg?

Free public transport is slowly becoming a reality worldwide. Many municipalities offer zero-fare routes and the measure is expanding to bigger cities. Tallin offers free public transport since 2013, except for the train. This March, the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, announced the launch of a study mission on the possibility of no fares...

Paris considers offering free public transport
A toll might be implemented at the city entrance to compensate the 3 billion revenue loss

Paris considers offering free public transport

Two months ago, the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, announced the launch of a study mission on the possibility of free public transport in Ile-de-France. Around twenty French municipalities, such as Niort (Deux-Sèvres), Compiègne (Oise) or Aubagne (Bouches-du-Rhône), have removed the pricing of its public transport. The measure is also running in Tallinn since...