EU cities have embraced free public transport
The growing trend in the provision of basic services has its own name – zero fare
Mobility as a basic human right and a free service: who would have thought this would be possible a few decades ago? However, in the European Union, more and more places are starting to embrace the idea and offer their residents (and tourists) the opportunity to move around their city without financial concerns.
Nowadays, a comfortable life as a modern urban resident is seen as a necessity in thriving communities. But it’s not just that. Concerns, such as carbon dioxide emissions from private transport, overcrowding, traffic congestion, and the need for more space, have been seen as issues that need solutions. Then there was the war in Ukraine and the resulting rise in fuel prices, which showed how dangerous it was to have to rely on individual car ownership.
The Luxembourg government was the first to respond, making the country, in 2020, the first in the world to offer free public transport and beyond. It will soon be followed by Malta, which will take the same step on 1 October 2022. However, these are small countries with small populations.
Making public transportation free across the board in larger communities would still be too complicated and ineffective. More recently, the case of a trial of €9 tickets in Germany showed that they can lead to overcrowding and problems during critical moments such as public holidays.
More practical and easier to manage is the introduction of free public transport in towns, regions and cities. If it proves successful over time, it can be expanded to a larger area. This approach is also known as fare-free transportation or free transportation. In Europe, it was first trialled in a suburb of Toulouse called Colomiers in 1971 and service continued there until 2016, when it was closed due to reorganization and inefficiency.
Things are improving as more and more European local authorities show their dedication to providing public goods that benefit people. They are not afraid to experiment in uncharted areas, such as fare-free transportation.
European cities with free transportation
After a referendum in 2013, residents of Tallinn (the capital of Estonia) voted overwhelmingly in favor of free public transportation. The problem in Tallinn can be compared to the problem in Luxembourg City: thousands of commuters travel to the city center every day. In addition, many low-income people struggle to pay. The system has been operating without any major hitches for nearly a decade, even if analysts say it has not led to a decrease in the number of private cars on the streets.
In the French city of Dunkirk, steps to provide free buses and trains have led to a decrease in traffic. Since 2018, residents can travel by public transport for free.
A study conducted a few months after the switch found that it discouraged local residents from driving their cars. Although two-thirds of participants said they relied on cars, more than half said they regularly rode buses to get around. In fact, about 5% said that the availability of free buses helped convince them to sell their cars or not to buy a second car.
Aubagne (also in France) pioneered the world’s first free tram network, and public transport has been free there since 2009. Initially seen as a simple test, the initiative turned out to be a huge success. Three years later, the number of cars driving around the city each day had fallen by 5,000, a 10 percent decrease. The popularity of public transportation also increased by 235 percent.
Cascais is, so far, the only municipality in Portugal that has chosen to use public transport for free. She is happy with the results.
Anyone who has heard of Livigno is also likely an avid skier. This village in the Italian Alps has its own public transportation for free from 07:30 to 20:00. The city is very straightforward for its visitors: no one needs a car to discover it, and this certainly seems like a good way to stand out among winter destinations.
Instead of skiing in Italy, you might want to explore some of the island atmosphere up north. Here comes Ærø, a charming little Danish island, where you can take the bus for free as much as you want. Known as the sunniest place in all of Denmark, its colorful houses and humble locals make it an easy destination to choose. Keep in mind that the ferry that takes you to the island is not free.
Many people would be happy if Amsterdam implemented a completely free public transport network. Although this is still unrealistic, the good news is that the city’s floating ferries on its canals are already available free of charge to pedestrians, cyclists and scooters.
It is not just a Western phenomenon
If we turn our attention to Eastern Europe, we will find that there are notable examples of free transportation as well.
Since 2011, people have been able to use public transportation for free in Frydek Místek, a town in the east of the Czech Republic. Passenger numbers increased by up to 40 percent during the first two years. What’s really great is that the free buses easily take you to outlying villages and thus go beyond the city limits to provide service to neighboring areas. The longest free ride takes you 30 kilometers to the touristic Beskidi Mountain.
The aspect of regional expansion of fare-free services in parts of Poland’s Lower Silesia region has also been introduced. There is free transportation in Pulkovici, an industrial town with a population of 22,000, in some agglomerations in the canton, in Lubin and throughout the canton and in some agglomerations in the Canton of Legnica, an industrial town with a population of 100,000.
Samokov is a city in Bulgaria with a population of about 27,000, located at the foot of the Rila Mountains on the way to the country’s famous ski resort of Borovets. The initiative was initially intended for residents only, but two years after its launch, public transportation became available to everyone for free.
Velenje is the sixth largest city in Slovenia, and one of the recently selected 100 smart and climate-neutral cities by 2030. It has a network of free yellow buses that take you around the city. What makes this city so special, besides its sustainable character, is Lake Velenje, the deepest lake in the entire country. Next to the city you will find a green oasis, which you can reach for free by bus.
These are some notable examples of European cities, which are also worth visiting this summer to experience their free transport offer first-hand. We will have to see whether it will serve as inspiration for expanding fare-free transportation on a larger scale.
