During the COVID pandemic in 2020, many governments sought to help their residents and reduce the burden of every day life. On 28 February 2020, Luxembourg, a tiny yet progressive European nation, abolished fares for trains, trams and buses!
Imagine living in a city, where the stress of commuting is replaced by a sense of freedom, where the daily hustle is not accompanied by the usual struggles of traffic jams and high transportation costs. Luxembourg has turned this dream into a reality by abolishing fares on buses, trams, and trains throughout the entire country.
Luxembourg rightly made waves when it became the first country to make public transport free for everyone. Providing individuals with a cost saving of €440 annually, this bold initiative has transformed the daily lives of Luxembourg’s residents. In the unlikely event that you don’t want to share your space with “the common person”, you can still purchase a first class ticket and travel in slightly more luxury.
This expanding movement towards re-imagining the way we think about public transportation started with Hasselt, Belgium in 1997. Hasselt made public transport by bus free. By 2006, bus use was 13 times higher. Unfortunately, subsidies were reduced and a fee was re-introduced in 2013.
In 2013, Tallinn, Estonia’s capital, became the first city in Europe to make public transport free to residents. The latest city to follow this fantastic example is Montpellier, in France. On 21st December 2023, Montpellier made public transport free to residents. The number of residents with public transport passes tripled in the run-up.
What’s more, when more people use public transport, more public transport is created. Public transport not only encourages sustainability, it also brings forth a myriad of benefits for both individuals and society at large. There is less traffic congestion, better air quality and less pollution in general. There is reduced reliance on fossil fuels, less time wasted behind a wheel in traffic jams and safer roads. Yes, your city and country want you to use public transport, but they’re not going to spend money on it, if you’re not using it.
You may be asking: “Who is paying for this all?” In Montpellier, for example, companies with more than 11 employees are contributing, because it’s organisations who benefit the most from employees arriving on time and in good health.
For me, the biggest impact is on social inclusivity. When public transport is free for everyone then nobody has to think about the cost of visiting friends, going to college or just getting out and exploring their city. You can visit your gran more often. You can go to that nice shop on the other side of town. You can take that better job that would otherwise be too expensive to get to. Think about it: How often have you decided not to do something because of the cost of getting there?
Let’s follow Tallinn, Montpellier and Luxembourg in making this world a more sustainable, healthier and fairer place for everyone. Find out whether your political representative is working towards making transport in your city or country free for you, and push them to make this a reality for us all.
What are your thoughts on free public transport in your area? How would your life change if public transport were free and there was more of it? Leave us a comment and tell us what’s happening in your city and country.
Marcel Admiraal